FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT
In the Matter of a Complaint
by FINAL
DECISION
Carrie W. Gordon and Success
Programs,
Complainants
against Docket
#FIC 88‑254
Redding Superintendent of
Schools,
Respondent October
12, 1988
The above‑captioned matter was heard as a contested
case on August 17, 1988, at which time the complainants appeared but the
respondent failed to appear.
After consideration of the entire record, the following
facts are found:
1. The
respondent is a public agency within the meaning of §1‑18a(a), G.S.
2. By letter
dated May 26, 1988 the complainants made a request of the respondent for a list
of parents of tenth and eleventh grade students in the respondent's school
system.
3. The
respondent failed to respond to the complainants' request for records.
4. By letter
of complaint filed with the Commission on June 27, 1988 the complainants
appealed the respondent's failure to provide the requested records.
5. At
hearing, the complainants clarified their request by stating that they were
seeking the names and addresses of parents of tenth and eleventh grade
students.
6. It is
found that a list of parents' names and addresses prepared, owned, used,
received or retained by a school system is recorded data or information
relating to the conduct of the public's business and is, therefore, a public
record within the meaning of §1‑18a(d), G.S.
7. The
respondent, having failed to appear at hearing, also failed to prove that the
requested public record is exempt from disclosure by any provision of the
Freedom of Information Act, other state statute or federal law.
Docket #FIC 88‑254 Page
Two
8. It is
concluded that the respondent violated §§1‑15 and 1‑19(a), G.S.
when he failed to provide the complainants with the requested list.
The following order by the Commission is hereby
recommended on the basis of the record concerning the above‑captioned
complaint.
1. The
respondent forthwith shall provide the complainants with a list of the names
and addresses of parents of tenth and eleventh grade students in the
respondent's school system.
Approved by order of the Freedom of Information
Commission at its special meeting of October 12, 1988.
Catherine
H. Lynch
Acting
Clerk of the Commission