CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON

ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS

Via Electronic Mail

January 23, 2017

Ms. Suzanne Martin

RE: Freedom of Information Act Request-RESPONSE

On January 10, 2017, New Trier Township High School District 203 received a Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) request from you, pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (the
Act) 5 ILCS 140/1 et seq., for the records listed below.

Due to the size and number of records included in this response, they are being provided
electronically via Drop Box. You will receive a Drop Box link in a separate email. The records are
organized by topic so they will be easier for you to review. If you would prefer that we deliver
these documents on a flash drive, please contact me.

Request #1: All contracts, agreements or documents for engaging speakers bureaus,
publishing agents, NFP organizations, for-profit organizations, publishers and individuals
who were engaged as speakers, presenters or instructors for the 2017 event and 2016 event.

Response: Responsive records included. I have redacted private home addresses, phone
numbers, and emails, which are private information and exempt from disclosure under
Section 7(1)(b) of the FOIA. 5 ILCS 140/2(c-5) and 7(1)(b).

Request #2: All communications (memos, letters, e-mails, voice mails, recorded meetings
& phone calls) to and from District personnel regarding the 2016 & 2017 event.

Response: This request is unduly burdensome. A search of emails from 01/01/15 through
01/10/17 for the keywords MLK Seminar and All School Seminar was conducted. The
resulting file contained 15,000 emails. It would take an unreasonable period of time for a staff
member to review all of the records to determine if any records or information contained in
the records are exempt from disclosure. In addition, the School District would likely need to
utilize the services of its outside legal counsel to review the records at a significant cost to
taxpayers. Undertaking a thorough and careful review of 15,000 emails is unreasonable,
would disrupt the duly-undertaken work of the School District, and would require the

7 Happ Rd Northfield, IL 60093-3411 phone 847.784.3408 johnsonc@newtrier.k12.il.us

1833933.1
Ms. Suzanne Martin
January 23, 2017
Page 2

School District to go beyond what is reasonably expected of a public body contrary to the
intent of the FOIA. 5 ILCS 140/1. In this case, the request is unduly burdensome and the
burden on the School District outweighs the public interest in the information.

You are invited to contact me to clarify and narrow the scope of the search in an attempt to
reduce your requests to manageable proportions. If you do not contact me in a reasonable
period of time, you should consider this as a final response and denial of your request based
on the unduly burdensome exemption provided in Section 3(g) of the FOIA. 5 ILCS540/3(g).

Request #3 CVs of all individuals engaged as speakers, presenters or instructors for the 2017
event.

Response: The district did not collect or store any CVs or resumes for speakers. No
responsive records.

Request #4: Copies of any checks or payments from the District to individuals engaged as
speakers, presenters or instructors for the 2017 event and individuals or organizations
engaged to organize, plan or promote the 2017 event.

Response: No payments have been made regarding the 2017 event as of the date of this
request. No responsive records.

Request #5: A list of groups & speakers who were invited to take part in the All-School
Seminar Days but declined.

Response: Responsive records included.

Request #6: Copies of all documents created by or on behalf of the District requesting
proposals or bids by speakers, presenters or instructors for the 2016 & 2017 events.

Response: Responsive records included.

Request #7: Copies of minutes or summaries of all meetings by faculty & staff of the
District held for the purpose of planning, organizing or promoting the 2016 & 2017 events.

Response: No responsive records.

Request #8: Copies of minutes and electronic recordings of meetings held by the Board of
Education or any committee of the Board for the purpose of planning, organizing or
promoting the 2016 & 2017 events.

a. Response: December 15, 2015 Discussion of the school calendar in which the Board
suggested that something like a seminar day should be done to recognize the
importance of MLK Day. Minutes attached. Video can be found at:

1833933.1
Ms. Suzanne Martin
January 23, 2017
Page 3

http://newtrier.k12.il.us/Board/Video/2014-
2015/December_15,_2014_Board_of_Education_Video/
b. January 18, 2016 Martin Luther King Day All School Seminar Report given. Minutes
attached. Video can be found at: http://newtrier.k12.il.us/Board/Video/2015-
2016/January_18_Board_of_Education_Meeting/

Request #9: Copies of any resolution passed by the Board of Education related to the 2016
& 2017 events.

Response: No responsive records.

Request #10: Copies of all correspondence from any individual or organization related to
the 2016 & 2017 events.

Response: This request is unduly burdensome. A search of emails from 01/01/15 through
01/10/17 for the keywords MLK Seminar and All School Seminar was conducted. The
resulting file contained 15,000 emails. It would take an unreasonable period of time for a staff
member to review all of the records to determine if any records or information contained in
the records are exempt from disclosure. In addition, the School District would likely need to
utilize the services of its outside legal counsel to review the records at a significant cost to
taxpayers. Undertaking a thorough and careful review of 15,000 emails is unreasonable,
would disrupt the duly-undertaken work of the School District, and would require the
School District to go beyond what is reasonably expected of a public body contrary to the
intent of the FOIA. 5 ILCS 140/1. In this case, the request is unduly burdensome and the
burden on the School District outweighs the public interest in the information.

You are invited to contact me to clarify and narrow the scope of the search in an attempt to
reduce your requests to manageable proportions. If you do not contact me in a reasonable
period of time, you should consider this as a final response and denial of your request based
on the unduly burdensome exemption provided in Section 3(g) of the FOIA. 5 ILCS540/3(g).

Request #11: Electronic copies of all emails and attachments sent or received since
1/1/2015 via District email services with the following keyword-SCHECTER.

Response: Responsive records included. I have redacted private emails, which are private
information and exempt from disclosure under Section 7(1)(b) of the FOIA. 5 ILCS 140/2(c-
5) and 7(1)(b). In addition, I have not included one record that identifies a New Trier student.
The School District is prohibited from releasing information that identifies individual
students under the Illinois School Student Records Act. 105 ILCS 10/6. Information that is
prohibited from disclosure under the Illinois School Student Records Act is exempt from
disclosure under Sections 7(1)(a) and 7.5(r) of the FOIA. 105 ILCS 10/6; 5 ILCS 140/7(1)(a);
and 5 ILCS 140/7.5(r).

To the extent you consider this response as a denial of your request, you have the right to have the
denials contained in this letter reviewed by the Public Access Counselor (PAC) at the Office of the
Illinois Attorney General. 5 ILCS 140/9.5(a). You can file your Request for Review with the PAC by

1833933.1
Ms. Suzanne Martin
January 23, 2017
Page 4

writing to: Public Access Counselor, Office of the Attorney General, 500 South 2nd Street Springfield,
Illinois 62706, Fax: 217-782-1396, E-mail: publicaccess@atg.state.il.us, Phone: 1-877-299-3642. If you
choose to file a Request for Review with the PAC, you must do so within 60 calendar days after the
date of this denial letter. 5 ILCS 140/9.5(a). Please note that you must include a copy of your original
request for documents and the denial letter when filing a Request for Review with the PAC. You
also have the right to seek judicial review of your denial by filing a lawsuit in the State circuit court.
5 ILCS 140/11.

Sincerely,

Christopher T. Johnson
Freedom of Information Officer

CTJ/pls

cc: Dr. Linda Yonke, Superintendent

Members of the Board of Education

1833933.1