Joshua Dankoff v. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (SPR 20250959)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records April 18, 2025 SPR25/0959 Helene Bettencourt Associate Commissioner Commissioner’s Office Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 135 Santilli Highway Everett, MA 02149 Dear Ms. Bettencourt: I have received the petition of Joshua Dankoff, of Citizens For Juvenile Justice, appealing the nonresponse of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On January 29, 2025, Mr. Dankoff requested: [1] All memorandums of understanding and operating procedures filed with DESE from 2022 to the date this request is responded to from school districts that outline the relationship between school districts and police departments and school resource officers. [2] [A]ll documents DESE has on file under the above timeline filed in relation to Chapter 71 Section 37P(e), which states that: (e) Each school shall annually file its final memorandum of understanding and operating procedures with the department of elementary and secondary education. The department of elementary and secondary education shall collect data on the number of mental and social emotional health support personnel and the number of school resource officers employed by each local education agency and shall publish a report of the data on its website. The department shall promulgate rules or regulations necessary to carry out this section. Claiming to not yet have received responsive records, Mr. Dankoff petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR25/0959, was opened as a result. Subsequently, I learned that the Department provided Mr. Dankoff with a response on April 18, 2025. Where this appeal was opened as a result of the Department’s lack of a written 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

Helene Bettencourt SPR25/0959 Page 2 April 18, 2025 response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Mr. Dankoff may appeal the substantive nature of the Department’s response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Joshua Dankoff