John Hilliard v. Executive Office of Education (SPR 20250549)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records March 7, 2025 SPR25/0549; SPR25/0554 Abigail Fee, Esq. General Counsel and Records Access Officer Executive Office of Education One Ashburton Place, Room 1403 Boston, MA 02108 Dear Attorney Fee: I have received the petitions of John Hilliard, of the Boston Globe, appealing the response of the Executive Office of Education (Office) to two requests for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On January 29, 2025, Mr. Hilliard requested the following: SPR25/0549 - Any emails, text messages, or instant messages (ie Slack) sent or received on Jan. 28, 2025 by Secretary Patrick Tutwiler, Governor Maura Healey, or Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll - To narrow the scope of this request, I seek emails, text messages, or instant messages from Jan. 28, 2025 related to federal grant funding - Any drafts of public statements, alerts or announcements related to federal grant funding on Jan. 28, 2025[.] SPR25/0554 - Any emails, text messages, or instant messages (ie Slack) sent or received by Secretary Patrick Tutwiler, Governor Maura Healey, or Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll related to migrant students - To narrow the scope of this request, I seek emails, text messages, or instant messages since Nov. 5, 2024 - Any statements, alerts, or announcements that were sent to internal staff or made publicly related to migrant students since Nov. 5, 2024[.] The Office responded to both requests with a single letter on February 25, 2025. Unsatisfied with the Office’s response, Mr. Hilliard petitioned this office, and these appeals, One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 • (617) 727-2832 • Fax: (617) 727-5914 sec.state.ma.us/pre • pre@sec.state.ma.us

Abigail Fee, Esq. SPR25/0549; SPR25/0554 Page 2 March 7, 2025 SPR25/0549 and SPR25/0554, were opened as a result. Subsequent to the opening of these appeals, I learned that the Office provided supplemental responses by email to Mr. Hilliard and this office on February 27, 2025 and March 3, 2025. As these appeals were opened based on the Office’s February 25th response, I will now consider these administrative appeals closed. If unresolved issues remain, Mr. Hilliard may further appeal the substantive nature of the Office’s February 27th and March 3rd responses within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: John Hilliard