By: Diane Benjamin
On March 22nd I wrote about a document handed out to kids at BHS during their student walkout concerning gun violence: https://blnnews.com/2018/03/22/remember-the-student-walk-out-bhs/
This is the email that made me want to know what the document says:
The email says WE will provide copies.
Note also the email says the copies were given to Carys Lovell who must be a student since they decided students need to distribute it. That name will be important in a minute.
I sent District 87 a FOIA request for the document. It could be something as benign as calling for background checks. It could also be propaganda calling for an assault weapons ban without any context for what that means. Parents have a right to know what they handed to your impressionable kid!
This is the first response I received:
Does anybody believe the district made 200 copies and it only cost $1.68?
Why would any material be distributed without knowing the source?
I asked again for the document suggesting they ask the student who gave it to them for a copy. Now remember the name above, because according to their next email it would be a violation of the law for them to disclose the name – even though I never asked for it.
Since this response is long, I copied it instead of posting a picture:
I am sending this email in further response to your reply to my response to your request for a document you describe as “Take Action 4 Sensible Gun Reform.pdf” which your request describes as having been “distributed to students on March 14, 2018.” In addition to the document itself, you requested “[a]ny documents showing the source and cost of this document including making copies.”
I advised you earlier today that I could not find a copy of the document you requested; that the document was not used for any official school purpose; that students (not the District) used and distributed the document; that neither Mr. Moore, Dr. Reilly nor I had maintained a copy of the document; and that I was still waiting to hear whether any other high school administrator kept a copy. While the District spent approximately $1.68 making 200 copies of the document for a student, I do not believe it is a public record “pertaining to the transaction of public business” and therefore subject to the provisions of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Despite this, I attempted to get you a copy of the document to the extent one of the District’s administrators had maintained a copy. I further informed you that if I found a copy maintained by the District I would forward it to you immediately.
You responded by stating: “Ask the student who gave it to you!”
I am willing to cooperate in providing you with a copy of a document which is not a public record subject to FOIA and not in the custody or possession of the District; however, I do not believe I have an obligation to request the document from a student under FOIA.
FOIA defines a “public record” as “all records . . . pertaining to the transaction of pubic business . . . having been prepared by or for, or having been or being used by, received by, in the possession of, or under the control of any public body” (5 ILCS 140/2(c)). The document you are requesting was not prepared by or for the District, was not used by the District, is not in the possession of the District, and is not under the control of or maintained by the District. At this time, I am not aware that any administrator who may have received a copy of the document has maintained it.
Furthermore, your initial FOIA request seeks information regarding the source of the document. I told you a student provided it and any disclosure of that source would be in violation of the Family Educational Rights to Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Illinois School Student Records Act (ISSRA) since it would disclose personally identifiable student information (FERPA, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99 and ISSRA, 105 ILCS 10/1 et seq.). Disclosure of the “source” is exempt from disclosure under Section 7(1)(a) of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act which exempts disclosure of “[i]nformation specifically prohibited from disclosure by federal or State law. . . .” 5 ILCS 140/7(1)(a). Therefore, I deny any further information related to the student source of the document you are requesting.
David Wood, FOIA Officer made this determination.
The document was “prepared” when the district used their equipment to copy it.
Parents of District 87 kids should be concerned because Amendments to the Constitution are Rights. Rights aren’t up for negotiation, especially when recent shootings were caused by the failure of government to do their job. Current laws were not used, so more laws would be useless except to limit the rights of law-abiding citizens.
I wonder if District 87 will copy pro-life information and allow students to distribute it?
This isn’t over.
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All I can say is, KEEP the email attesting to the “actual costs” of the district for making the copies. Use it against them when they try to charge 15 cents per page on a FOIA request. Actually, you should FOIA for all payments received as a result of FOIA requests top see how much they charge the requesters.
Thank you Diane. The truth always comes out, one way or another. If the school is handing out student names now they are in deep. Imagine…blaming a student for their actions. Oh wait, I remember that’s normal at 87.
More Left wing indoctrination, masquerading as education. Far, far too typical. Happens millions of times a day, across the country.
Diane, please push this TO THE MAX!
Great work, Diane! I’m sure more than a few news outlets (outside Bloomington, of course) will run this story. This is embarrassing!
A quick Google search of Carys Lovell reveals that she is a member of the Youth Global Initiative (YGC) a subset of the “Citizens for a Better Tomorrow” group. Hopfully they are not getting one cent of my tax dollars.
“Carys Lovell, Bloomington High School
Carys Lovell attends Bloomington High School, and she is in her sophomore year. She loves to get involved in as many ways as possible. At school she does lots of things such as: drama, key club, student council, promise council, French club, and band. Music is a big part of her life, and outside of school she takes clarinet and piano lessons. With all of the clubs and activities she is in, she is very busy, but she loves it. Volunteering is definitely a newfound passion of hers now that she is in high school, and there are more opportunities to help out. Whatever she can do, whether it’s making a card, gathering supplies, or doing community service, Carys hopes that she can make a positive impact on her community.”
It also reveals her artwork in the ARTDOXA website. Check it out and decide for yourself what she means by YA HUSSEIN and her depictions of swords. Muslim swords good and American Constitution bad???
Can you provide a link?
I’m sorry but you left out her home address so we could picket it, too.
Ms Lovell seems quite taken with Islamic subject matter doesn’t she. I wonder where her inspiration came from?
Since it only costs $1.68 per 200 copies, WHY don’t they open a print shop? That’s a very good rate. I find problems with this at SO MANY levels. “Let’s give it to the STUDENTS” so we have NO knowledge of it. That’s low..
What I find disgusting is the level of ignorance of the Constitution by public employees. Perhaps they should have their pensions removed? But then they would screech about it being Constitutionally protected. You want to remove my rights… then I will take your rights.
The school administration should have stayed out of the whole protest. They should have said “no” to use of school resources for the protest, which supposedly was not school sponsored. That single act of supplying tax-dollar-paid-for material by the public school administration is also teaching the youngsters that it is okay to use public funds for uses they are not intended. And that is is okay to steal from your employer.
The destruction of America from enemies from within are intentional. Note that the states that seem to be the worst abusers of American values, CA., NY, IL, etc. have alot of electoral votes. As the good people flee, those electoral votes will yield a lot of power. Making decisions that are not prudent or logical for the better interest of the Republic and it’s citizens is the plan for the socialist, communist, marxist takeover.
The board and the superintendant are worthless and weak.
MORE coming soon!