Book Complaints: Altoona Area School District

Emma Rubin filed this request with the Altoona Area School District of Altoona, PA.
Tracking #

22-16

Status
Rejected

From: Emma Rubin

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Pennsylvania Right to Know Act, I hereby request the following records:

Copies of written and electronic complaints and challenges for removal, reclassification, or other reconsideration of instructional and library materials including books, ebooks, and audiobooks from January 1, 2000 (or as early as available) to the present, as well as records, petitions, correspondence, and the outcomes related to these challenges. These complaint forms may be categorized as “Request for reconsideration of materials” or “Request for review of building level recommendation”. These are sometimes referred to as “book challenges.”

As we believe these records will benefit the public interest and inform public understanding of book challenges across the U.S., we request any fees associated with this request be waived. We are planning to make our findings publicly available. If fees cannot be waived, please inform me in advance. Please know that I am a member of the media, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

If possible, I would appreciate the corresponding records shared via email with text documents or clear PDFs. If you cannot reply electronically, please let me know and I can provide a mailing address. If you expect a significant delay in responding to this request, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Emma Rubin

From: Altoona Area School District

An interim response, stating the request is being processed.

From:

Good morning-

Please see the attached response letter to your recent Right to Know
request. A copy of this letter will also be sent via mail.

Regards,
Open Records Office
Altoona Area School District
1201 8th Ave. Altoona, PA 16602

On Nov. 16, 2022:
Subject: Pennsylvania Right to Know Act Request: Book Complaints: Altoona
Area School District
To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Pennsylvania Right to Know Act, I hereby request the
following records:

Copies of written and electronic complaints and challenges for removal,
reclassification, or other reconsideration of instructional and library
materials including books, ebooks, and audiobooks from January 1, 2000 (or
as early as available) to the present, as well as records, petitions,
correspondence, and the outcomes related to these challenges. These
complaint forms may be categorized as “Request for reconsideration of
materials” or “Request for review of building level recommendation”. These
are sometimes referred to as “book challenges.”

As we believe these records will benefit the public interest and inform
public understanding of book challenges across the U.S., we request any
fees associated with this request be waived. We are planning to make our
findings publicly available. If fees cannot be waived, please inform me in
advance. Please know that I am a member of the media, and this request is
not being made for commercial purposes.

If possible, I would appreciate the corresponding records shared via email
with text documents or clear PDFs. If you cannot reply electronically,
please let me know and I can provide a mailing address. If you expect a
significant delay in responding to this request, please contact me with
information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the
requested records.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I
look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business
days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Emma Rubin

--
This electronic message, including any attachments, constitutes
information that may be privileged and confidential and is expressly for

the use of the intended addressee(s) only. If you are not the intended
recipient(s) of this email or have received this email in error, please
notify the sender immediately and promptly destroy any record of this
email. Any dissemination, copying or use of the information contained in

this email or any attachment by anyone other than the intended
recipient(s) is strictly prohibited.

From: Altoona Area School District

Ms. Rubin-
After a complete and thorough review of your recent Altoona Area School District Right-to-Know Request, no written or electronic complaints and challenges for removal, reclassification, or other reconsideration of instruction and library materials were found and therefore; no records exist. As permitted by Section 705 of the Act, an agency shall not be required to create a record which does not currently exist or to compile, maintain, format or organize a record in a manner in which the agency does not currently compile, maintain, format, or organize the record. Please see the attached denial response letter, as permitted by Section 705 of the Act.

From: Altoona Area School District

Ms. Rubin-

Attached is a response letter to your most recent Right-To-Know Request of
the Altoona Area School District. This response was also uploaded to the
link/portal that you provided in your original email:

View request history, upload responsive documents, and report problems here:
https://www.muckrock.com/

Open Records Office
Altoona Area School District
1201 8th Ave. Altoona, PA 16602

--
This electronic message, including any attachments, constitutes
information that may be privileged and confidential and is expressly for

the use of the intended addressee(s) only. If you are not the intended
recipient(s) of this email or have received this email in error, please
notify the sender immediately and promptly destroy any record of this
email. Any dissemination, copying or use of the information contained in

this email or any attachment by anyone other than the intended
recipient(s) is strictly prohibited.