Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Open Records topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board denies FOIA fee appeal from Lansing State Journal reporter
Summary
The board voted 8-0 to deny a fee appeal by Sarah Atwood of the Lansing State Journal challenging a $608 fee and the district's requirement for a 50% deposit on large FOIA requests; board said fees were calculated per district policy.
The Lansing School District Board denied a fee appeal from Sarah Atwood of the Lansing State Journal at its Dec. 19 meeting, voting unanimously (8-0) to send the drafted denial letter.
According to the packet and staff remarks, the appeal challenged the fees associated with fulfilling a four-year records request. District staff told the board that the requested fees represent the hourly rate plus benefits of the two lowest-paid employees in each of the two departments needed to process the request (human resources and IT), and that the district’s policy requires a 50% deposit when anticipated fees exceed a threshold. The board’s motion was to deny the appeal and send the drafted letter; the motion was moved by Trustee Nowitzki and supported by Vice President Moore.
Trustees clarified that the request itself was not denied; rather, what was appealed was the fee calculation and deposit requirement. Trustee Nowitzki said the documentation supported the district’s fee calculation and recommended denying the appeal. The board approved the motion by voice vote and roll-call confirmation when required.
