OPRA: The Final Line OF Defense

During the 06/10/2021 meeting, Mr. Reinstein made it a point to highlight that over 20 OPRA requests came from one parent (https://bit.ly/3vJ3p9v).

This event occurring nearly one year after the BOE (under his leadership) implemented the practice of listing OPRA requests received by the District on Board Meeting Agendas. Additionally, District staff who receive OPRA requests from parents cc Mr. Reinstein on their responses to these requests. Many parents I’ve spoken to, including myself, have come to believe this is BOE’s way of developing and conveying a sort of enemies list.

In fact, during last years election, the first time this list was published, it was used to target a candidate. Her name was not even on the list. Individuals who decided to pile on over a list of people asking for information from the District assumed the individuals on the list were her supporters. Weird, right?

That candidate was the person Mr. Reinstein decided to point out during the meeting on 06/10/2021, who also happens to be a parent impacted by the BOE’s decision to reconfigure our schools.

What is it about these requests for information that cause them to come under such scrutiny and become the subject of so much attention?

If you read the social media forums over the years, you will find several laments about the amount of work OPRA requests represent for the District. Parents wanting information from the Public School system are somehow harming our schools due to the time required to fulfill these requests.

Every single parent should rail against any shaming or attempted encroachment of their right to OPRA.

OPRA was critical in allowing parents to discover the potential violations connected to the BOE’s plan to reconfigure our schools (https://bit.ly/3wwftfg). It was the mechanism that let parents and residents finally put one wall in the way of Dr. Varley’s, Mr. Reinsteins, Ms. Penna’s, Mr. D’Aquila’s and Ms. Reilly’s plan to reconfigure our schools over the protests of hundreds of parents and residents. OPRA is the reason the District avoided further violations by starting construction.

OPRA allowed residents to cut through the layers of expensive and connected lawyers hired by the BOE, self-serving bylaws and policies, technicalities that allowed for secret meetings by BOE members. It gave us the power to kick down the door and finally have some say.

If the BOE wanted to reduce the number of OPRA requests, they could, instead of publishing names and calling people out during the meetings, act transparently.

Instead of hiring lawyers to protect them from the very people they are supposed to serve; they could use that money to advertise what they plan to do and increase opportunities to increase resident input.

Instead of figuring out how many people they need to limit meetings to as a means of avoiding laws requiring public involvement, they could open discussions up to parents who have a stake in the changes.

Instead of treating parents like political enemies, they could treat us like partners.

Now here is how you can OPRA the District. First, you should know that you can OPRA ANYTHING as long as what you are asking for is related to school business. You can even OPRA text messages between BOE members. I know because I did. If you want proof, refer back to one of Mr. Reinstein’s lists.

The person responsible for handling OPRA requests in our District is the school business administrator Donna Felezzola. You can email her the OPRA request at: [email protected]

The subject line can read: “OPRA and Common Right To Know Request”

In the body of the text message, you want to try to be as narrow and specific as possible in connection to the request so that they do not have a basis for denying your request as being overly broad. If you want a lot of stuff, just split it across multiple emails.

If you receive a denial that you feel does not comply with the law (I have several examples in my inbox), you can consult with an OPRA attorney (a few work on a contingency basis). If this is the first time you submit an OPRA request, expect a denial – unless they think you are using it in ways that benefit Mr. Reinstein.

If you need help with an OPRA request (Im not a lawyer or anything) you can email me: [email protected] and Ill try to help or connect you to someone who can.

Hope to see your name on Mr. Reinstein’s OPRA list at the next BOE Meeting!