Pfeiffer, Emily v. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (SPR 20260002)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records January 15, 2026 SPR26/0002 Helene Bettencourt Primary Records Access Officer Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 135 Santilli Highway Everett, MA 02149 Dear Ms. Bettencourt: I have received the petition of Emily Pfeiffer appealing the response 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 August 20, 2025, Ms. Pfeiffer requested, “I submitted the initial request through PRS, but I can’t receive the determination because it has PII on students.I’m [sic] requesting the records now, for PRS 12965.” In a response on the same date, the Department stated, “[p]lease be advised the Department has no records that respond to your request at this time.” Subsequently, in correspondence replying to the Department dated August 20, 2025, Ms. Pfeiffer “[attached] the email [she] got from [an identified individual] at DESE [on August 20, 2025], letting [Ms. Pfeiffer] know about the determination and suggesting [she] request the records through” the Department’s public records portal. On December 14, 2025, Ms. Pfeiffer provided copies of the above items of August 20, 2025 correspondence in a message to the Department and stated, “I never got a response to the below . . . back in August. Please send these records to me at your earliest convenience.” Claiming to not yet have received responsive records, Ms. Pfeiffer petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR26/0002, was opened as a result. Subsequent to the opening of this appeal, I learned the Department provided Ms. Pfeiffer with a supplemental response on January 7, 2026, which included responsive records. Accordingly, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Ms. Pfeiffer may appeal the substantive nature of the Department’s January 7th response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). 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 SPR26/0002 Page 2 January 15, 2026 Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Emily Pfeiffer