The Coeur d’Alene School District 271 Board of Trustees looks as if it’s up to its old tricks again. What we have here is an unwillingness to communicate.
After learning Lake City High School had allegedly played one of the City’s propaganda messages to a captive student audience on the school’s closed-circuit television system, I sent a request for information and public records to Superintendent Hazel Bauman on February 22, 2011. I sought confirmation the message had been played and requested some particulars if it had.
Within the three-day deadline, I received the Board of Trustees’ reply signed by Lynn M. Towne, Clerk of the Board. As noted in her reply letter, I should have received the official written response by March 10, 2011. I haven’t received it. Under the Idaho Public Records Law, if the reply was not received within ten days (by March 10, 2011), it is presumed to have been denied. Am I surprised? No.
Gee, Bill – at least you received one reply. Sometimes they don’t even bother to reply at all. I sent one to Kootenai County awhile ago and they ignored me. Looks like they are making you appeal the decision.
Comment by Stebbijo — March 15, 2011 @ 10:54 am
Watch out, you might be labeled a “vexatious litigant”.
Comment by Happy Trails — March 16, 2011 @ 7:59 am
There is no excuse for not replying immediately. Perhaps the district needs additional to create a plausible excuse.
Comment by Susie Snedaker — March 16, 2011 @ 8:14 am
Stebbijo and Happy Trails,
No, there is little point in filing an action in the District Court.
Susie,
Presumably the District believes it has more important things to do than comply with state law. The Superintendent and Board of Trustees have amply demonstrated that.
Comment by Bill — March 16, 2011 @ 8:24 am
Today I received this reply from SD 271.
Comment by Bill — March 16, 2011 @ 7:05 pm
It is nice to know that students are interested in local issues.
Comment by Susie Snedaker — March 17, 2011 @ 3:58 am
Susie,
I’d sure like to see documentary the LCHS multimedia class did on the election contest …
Comment by Bill — March 17, 2011 @ 6:40 am
I can’t believe the petty stuff the commentators on this blog complain about. This is a high school class project.
Comment by sammy_cda — March 17, 2011 @ 2:45 pm
No, Sammy. It’s not a high school class project: It’s a controversial issue that involves tens of millions of dollars of public money. It’s an issue that is dividing the community. The School District has no place being a propaganda arm for the City of Coeur d’Alene, and kids should know when they’re being manipulated by the power players in this community.
Comment by Dan — March 17, 2011 @ 3:40 pm
sammycda,
The point of this post was the apparent non-responsiveness of the School District to a request for information pursuant to the Idaho Public Records Law. The reason for the request for information was that we had received comments from some parents whose children, students, had mentioned the video. The parents questioned the propriety of what appeared to them to be a biased presentation promoting a costly and very controversial city project. The purpose of my questions was to get answers that would explain the actions taken by the School District.
Comment by Bill — March 18, 2011 @ 6:32 am