Board asks superintendent to review OPRA process after members raise legal-fee and transparency concerns

During new business, multiple board members criticized the district’s handling of public-record (OPRA) requests and the apparent frequency of legal referrals that drive attorney fees. One board member asked that, when the administration has already fulfilled an OPRA request, the board be copied on the response so individual trustees do not need to file follow-up OPRA requests that then generate attorney time and fees.

The business administrator said adding board members’ email addresses to responses could produce follow-up questions and additional work for staff, and that some prior practice had intentionally limited copying to avoid generating more requests. The board heard that historically some OPRA responses were posted on the district website but that site migrations and missing attachments have created gaps in historical records.

Board counsel and administration acknowledged the concern and agreed that the superintendent should review the OPRA workflow, identify opportunities to reduce redundant attorney review and report back. "If doctor Feltri can take a look at the way the district is handling the OPRA process... and look for ways that we can do it better without the loop that we have on the attorney side," a board member said during the discussion.

The board directed the superintendent to examine current practice and bring recommendations for reducing costs and improving access to previously released records, with the expectation that some items may be handled administratively or through revised publication practices rather than repeated legal review.