Public schools: What do you have a right to know?

Taxpayers have the right to ask questions and look into matters happening inside their schools.
Knowing how to access information, as well as what information is available, are keys to conducting successful research.
Recent Freedom of Information requests sent to Norwich and Unadilla Valley School districts were prime examples of what’s accessible, and not accessible, when it relates to school documents.
The schools’ responses, received within the required time limit several days after the requests were made, were similiar. The requests asked for access to all records within the past year that pertained to formal complaints filed against district employees – including staff, teachers and administration.
Unadilla Valley Schools Superintendent Robert Mackey stated via letter, “We have no instances of written sexual and/or criminal complaints that have been filed in the past year.”
Mackey did acknowledge that, “There have been two verbal complaints that are currently under investigation. Therefore, any such documentation regarding the investigation can not currently be FOILed.”
Although no further information can be gathered from administration regarding the specifics of the instances mentioned, the FOIL did show that there are matters being looked into.
Norwich City Schools Deputy Superintendent Margaret Boice said very few FOIL requests are received each year and certain types of issues are not open to anyone. “No one can FOIL personnel issues,” she said. “It is not public information.”
As Boice addressed the issue of complaints, she said she feels there are many types of complaints and many of them are not for the public to view. “These are private district matters.”
“If it was of criminal nature for instance, a person would have to go to the police,” she said, adding, “disclosure of unproven and unsubstainted allegations are not required by the Freedom of Information Act and serve only to invade the privacy of the complaint.”
In the letter received by The Evening Sun, Boice pointed out that the district does not have any complaints on file that “have been processed to final judgment” in any tribunal; therefore the information is unavailable to be FOILed.
In this case, both districts complied with FOIL and were within their legal limits to refuse access to the information.
Sometimes, many controversial issues, including those involving local schools, make their way into “30 Seconds,” The Evening Sun’s reader response line. Readers use this anonymous phone-line to voice their opinions on local issues without being required to attach their name. Much like word-of-mouth on the street, claims made are largely rumor until substantiated by fact – which isn’t always possible, even with FOIL.
However, if involved parties come forward as quotable sources, the newspaper can get better traction looking into a claim.
In recent months, The Evening Sun was able to break a story involving complaints filed against the Norwich Middle School principal Lisa Schuchman, after teachers made public their concerns with her behavior. At Unadilla Valley, an incident involving a noose being placed outside an African American teacher’s door came to light only after that teacher spoke with media outlets.
However, without their openness, some of that information may still be hidden – legally – from public knowledge. Of course, FOIL and the media aren’t the only ways to get access to public school information.
New Berlin resident, taxpayer and parent Ronald Harrington believes it is his right to stay informed of the happenings at Unadilla Valley and he feels comfortable enough to walk in and discuss any problem he may have with any of the school employees no matter their status. “This has actually happened before and I walked in and went right into the superintendent’s office,” he said.
In recent months he says there have been incidents that he feels were covered well by the school administration and that the necessary information was released in a timely fashion.
District-wide newsletters that are mailed to all taxpayers also keep residents informed – and some feel that’s all they need. “I think the superintendent is doing a fine job with the newsletter and the information he provides is good,” said Norwich resident Arthur Blakely.
Blakely and his wife, both taxpayers in the city school district, say they have an extensive educational background including teaching intermediate school and adults as well as raising three Norwich graduates. “Freedom of information is freedom of information,” he said. “It is the newspaper’s sacred duty to get the information out to the public. All we know is what is reported.”
Whether it be an issue pertaining to school budgets, behavioral instances or any other concerns that require interaction with the district, there are public comment portions of every school board meeting to allow the residents and taxpayers of each district make their voice heard, as well as FOIL and other formal ways to connect with schools and get the information they want.

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