Wright, Ellen v. Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District (SPR 20260196)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records January 22, 2026 SPR26/0196 Superintendent Eric Tracey Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District 5 School Street Wenham, MA 10984 Dear Superintendent Tracey: I have received the petition of Ellen A. Wright, Esq., appealing the nonresponse of the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District (District) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On January 10, 2026, Attorney Wright requested “non-privileged communications sent or received by [an identified individual] between October 1, 2023 and January 9, 2026, concerning, among other topics[:]” [1] [An identified individual][;] [2] Foreign language requirements, waivers, substitutions, or exemptions[;] [3] IEP meetings, special education decision-making, and IDEA/Section 504 obligations[;] [4] Statements or policies asserting that foreign language waivers are not special education decisions and[;] [5] Communications with special education staff, administrators, and legal counsel (with a request for a privilege log for any withheld material)[.] Claiming to not yet have received responsive records, Attorney Wright petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR26/0196, was opened as a result. The Public Records Access Regulations, which govern the procedural aspects of all appeals, provide records custodians with ten (10) business days in which a response to a public records request must be provided. See 950 C.M.R. 32.06(2)(b); G. L. c. 66, § 10(b). The 10-day time frame in which a custodian must respond has not yet elapsed. 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

Superintendent Eric Tracey SPR26/0196 Page 2 January 22, 2026 If after 10-business days have passed and the District denies your request or fails to respond, you may appeal to this office. At that time this office will review the matter. Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records Cc: Ellen A. Wright, Esq.