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Board denies FOIA fee appeal from Lansing State Journal requester
Summary
The board voted to deny an appeal of fees for a Freedom of Information Act request after staff recommended the district’s fee estimate complied with policy. The motion to deny passed 8-0.
The Lansing Public School District Board of Education on Dec. 2024 denied an appeal of fees charged for a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request submitted to the district by a Lansing State Journal reporter.
District staff told the board the appeal challenged the fees assessed to fulfill a large records request and requested board approval of a drafted denial letter. Staff explained the district requires a 50% deposit when estimated fees exceed a statutory threshold and that the district’s fee estimate reflected the hourly rate plus benefits of the two lowest‑paid employees in the two departments that would be needed to fulfill the request (human resources and information technology). Staff said the calculation followed the district’s FOIA policy and legal guidance provided by district counsel.
Trustee Nowinski moved to deny the FOIA fee appeal and send the drafted denial letter; the motion was seconded by Vice President Moore and approved 8–0.
Board discussion included confirmation that the initial district response did not withhold records on the basis of content but rather set fees for production; the appeal contested the fee amount rather than the withholding of records. Trustees asked staff to confirm fee calculations and to ensure the denial letter clearly explained the basis for the fee estimate.
The board’s action directs staff to send the drafted denial letter and to proceed with fee collection and record production consistent with the district’s FOIA procedures and counsel’s advice.
