Bellingham School District – Request for a complete electronic copy of all Public Records Requests received by the District including District Responses for the years 2010 - 2021
It is a clone of this request.
Tracking # |
DEP MR 120963 |
Submitted | Nov. 4, 2021 |
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Communications
From: PRA Audit
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act [RCW 42.56] I hereby request the following records:
I request a complete electronic copy of all Public Records Requests received by Bellingham School District and a complete electronic copy of the District's Responses to these Public Records Requests for the time period January 1, 2010 through November 4, 2021.
In the event the District chooses to provide these records in installments over time I request the records to be produced in reverse chronological order - from the most recent records to the earliest.
If this request is denied in whole or part, I ask that you justify all deletions by reference to specific exemptions of the PRA. I also request a detailed contemporaneous log to be provided for any document withheld or redacted.
For each responsive record the District contends is exempt from public disclosure, in whole or in part, please specifically identify the record by subject, title, author, custodian and date, and state how a specific statutory exemption applies to each record as required by RCW 42.56.210(3) and Rental Housing Ass'n v. Des Moines, 165 Wn.2d 525, 199 P.3d 393 (2009).
I request electronic production of all electronic records in the original NATIVE electronic format for each record.
I request for these public records to be produced by public (no password) e-mail attachment or link. If electronic attachment or link is not possible, an alternative would be to produce responsive records via USB DRIVE or DATA CD-ROM.
THIS REQUEST IS NOT BEING MADE FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request.
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,
PRA Audit
From: Bellingham Public Schools District
Nov. 10, 2021
MuckRock News
DEP MR 120963
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>
Dear PRA Audit,
Bellingham Public Schools received your public records request on November 5, 2021. Your request seeks all public records requests received by the district from January 1, 2010 through November 4, 2021, as well as a complete electronic copy of the district’s responses to those requests.
You have requested “electronic production of all electronic records in the original NATIVE format for each record.” The vast majority of records the district has disclosed in response to public records requests since 2010 have not been produced in native format, and instead were produced in formats such as .pdf or hard-copy. And as noted earlier, you have requested “a complete electronic copy of the district’s Responses” to public records requests during the time period in question, and such responses typically did not contain native format records. In light of this conflict, the district interprets your request as seeking the district’s previous disclosure communications in their native format when they were sent electronically, recognizing that those disclosure communications will often contain non-native files. For example, the district would produce to you the native format email of its response to a given public records request, which may include attached responsive records in pdf format that were actually produced to a requestor. Please let me know if you disagree with this interpretation of your request.
Next, please be aware that the district may no longer possess copies of older public records requests and/or district responses. In that event, the district would be unable to disclose copies of such requests and responses.
Per Procedure 4040P and RCW 42.56.120, the district charges the following fees for copies of records:
1. Fifteen cents per page for photocopies of public records, printed copies of electronic public records when requested by the person requesting records, or for the use of agency equipment to photocopy public records;
2. Ten cents per page for public records scanned into an electronic format or for the use of district equipment to scan the records;
3. Five cents per each four electronic files or attachment uploaded to email, cloud-based data storage service, or other means of electronic delivery;
4. Ten cents per gigabyte for the transmission of public records in an electronic format or for the use of district equipment to send the records electronically; and
5. The actual cost of any digital storage media or device provided by the district, the actual cost of any container or envelope used to mail the copies to the requestor, and the actual postage or delivery charge.
Any applicable copying costs must be received by the district before the district discloses records. Additionally, Procedure 4040P and RCW 42.56.120 authorizes the district to require a deposit of up to ten percent of the total estimated costs of providing copies for a request. The district has not yet had an opportunity to determine how many responsive records there will be, or what the total estimated cost of fulfilling the request will be.
Prior to providing a first installment of records for this request, we will contact you to let you know the total estimated cost and the deposit amount due. Following receipt of the deposit, the district will require payment of any applicable copying costs before producing installments.
At this time, we estimate that we will be able to disclose an initial installment of records by December 31, 2021.
Please let me know if you have any questions at this time. I can be reached at Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org<mailto:Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org> or 360-676-6520.
Sincerely,
Ms. Dana Smith, she/her/hers
Communications Manager | Records Officer
Communications and Community Relations
Bellingham Public Schools
Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org<mailto:Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org> | 360-676-6520
From: PRA Audit
Hello,
Thank you for your response.
This public records request is seeking previous public records requests as received by the District for the time period January 1, 2010 through November 4, 2021 as well as complete District responses to these records requests.
If the original records request and/or District response was electronic in format I request the NATIVE format to be retained and produced.
If the original records request and/or District response was paper in format I would request Adobe .pdf format to be electronically produced.
If any potentially responsive records have been destroyed and/or transferred to offsite location(s), I request copies of any destruction or transfer records as well as any other documentation relating to, mentioning or describing said transfer or destruction.
Thank you.
From: Bellingham Public Schools District
Jan. 20, 2022
MuckRock News
DEP MR 120963
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, Ma 02144-2516
Dear Requestor,
This letter is a follow-up to your Nov. 5, 2021 email request for records under the Public Records Act.
You requested:
“electronic production of all electronic records in the original NATIVE format for each record.”
Per my Nov. 10 correspondence, this letter is an estimate of applicable costs for the first installment of records responsive to this request and instructions for payment. We have determined and documented that the fees allowed under RCW 42.56.120 and procedure 4040 are clearly equal to, or more than, two dollars (please see table below).
Documentation of estimated charges:
We have completed our initial reviews of records for our first installment that may be responsive to this request. The estimated costs for records retrieved thus far are $18.10, which exceeds the $2 flat fee threshold.
- Five cents per each four electronic files or attachment uploaded to email, cloud-based data storage service, or other means of electronic delivery
1,403 files
Applicable fee
$17.54
- Ten cents per gigabyte for the transmission of public records in an electronic format or for the use of district equipment to send the records electronically
5.64 GB
$ .56
Total estimated costs
$ 18.10
Payment of at least 10% of the initial installment cost is required by Feb. 17, 2022, to receive a first installment of responsive records and can be made in the following ways:
- By check via U. S. Mail to Bellingham Public Schools: attention, Records Officer, 1306 Dupont St, Bellingham, WA 98226. Receipt for said payment will be returned via U.S. Mail.
- By cash, check or credit card payment in person at the district office during business hours (8
a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday).
We continue to compile responsive records. We anticipate being able to respond with a first installment, pending payment, via electronic file transfer and/or hard copy by March 17, 2022, if not sooner.
Please feel free to contact me at Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org <mailto:Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org> or 360-676-6520 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
[Shape Description automatically generated with medium confidence]
Dana Smith
Communications Manager | Public Records Officer | Bellingham Public Schools
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image001
From: PRA Audit
To Whom It May Concern:
Please find enclosed a check for $18.10 to satisfy the fee associated with the attached public records request.
Thank you.
Bellingham Public Schools
Records Officer
1306 Dupont Street
Bellingham, WA 98226
From: PRA Audit
Hello,
Payment was submitted for the 1st installment of responsive records in this public records request over 30 days ago. When do you anticipate producing the records?
Thank you.
From: Bellingham Public Schools District
Dear Requestor,
As per our January 20 correspondence, we anticipate being able to respond with a first installment via electronic file transfer and/or hard copy by March 17, 2022, if not sooner.
We have received your payment of $18.10.
Sincerely,
Dana Smith
Ms. Dana Smith, she/her/hers
Public Records Officer
Assistant Director, Communications and Community Relations
Bellingham Public Schools
Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org<mailto:Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org> | 360-676-6520
From: Bellingham Public Schools District
March 17, 2022
MuckRock News
DEP MR 120963
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>
Dear PRA Audit,
This correspondence is a follow up to your public records request received by Bellingham Public Schools on November 5, 2021. Your request seeks:
* all public records requests received by the district from January 1, 2010 through November 4, 2021, as well as a complete electronic copy of the district’s responses to those requests.
We received your records fee of $18.10 via U.S. Mail.
You may now access an initial installment of responsive records through our secure file sharing service, Citrix ShareFile.<https://bellinghampublicschools.sharefile.com/> You may access records as electronic files by activating an account I have set up for you. You will receive a separate email from sender “ShareFile Support” with an activation link in it to set up a ShareFile account and view and/or download records. If you don’t receive this activation link within 24 hours of this correspondence, please inform me right away, after checking any junk folders where the email may have been misdelivered.
We continue to collect, review and process records responsive to your Nov. 5 request, and you can expect an estimate of fees for a next installment of records by April 30, 2022.
Please feel free to contact me at (360) 676-6520 or Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org<mailto:Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org> if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
[Shape Description automatically generated with medium confidence]
Ms. Dana K. Smith | she/her/hers
Public Records Officer | Assistant Director, Department of Communications and Community Relations
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210922_Humphrey_Parkview_Alderwood
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210505_Matthews_CTE_records
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210204_WWU
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210208_Alaydie_Titan_Safety_Products_PPE
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210209_publiccontractors.com
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210216_Bayly_DRO_concluded
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210712_Robson_BHS_cooling_station
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From: Bellingham Public Schools District
June 24, 2022
MuckRock News
DEP MR 120963
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>
Dear PRA Audit,
This correspondence is a follow up to your public records request received by Bellingham Public Schools on November 5, 2021. Your request seeks:
* all public records requests received by the district from January 1, 2010 through November 4, 2021, as well as a complete electronic copy of the district's responses to those requests.
We continue to collect, review and process records responsive to your Nov. 5 request. We are updating our estimated date for a next installment. We expect to share an estimate for applicable fees for a next installment by July 30, 2022.
Please feel free to contact me at (360) 676-6520 or Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org<mailto:Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org> if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
[Shape Description automatically generated with medium confidence]
Ms. Dana K. Smith | she/her/hers
Public Records Officer | Assistant Director, Department of Communications and Community Relations
Dana Smith, she/her/hers
Assistant Director, Communications and Community Relations
media liaison | records officer
Bellingham Public Schools
Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org<mailto:Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org> | 360-676-6520
#BhamPromise #LoveBhamSchools
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image001
From: PRA Audit
Hello,
When can we expect a next installment of records?
Thank you.
From: Bellingham Public Schools District
August 11, 2022
MuckRock News
DEP MR 120963
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, Ma 02144-2516
Dear Requestor,
This letter is a follow-up to your Nov. 5, 2021 email request for records under the Public Records Act.
You requested:
* “all public records requests received by the district from January 1, 2010 through November 4, 2021, as well as a complete electronic copy of the district’s responses to those requests.”
We furnished a first installment of records responsive to this request in March 2022.
This letter is an estimate of applicable costs for the second installment of records responsive to this request and instructions for payment.
Documentation of estimated charges:
We have completed our initial reviews of records for installment 2 that are responsive to this request. The estimated costs for installment 2 of records retrieved thus far are $6.14.
- Five cents per each four electronic files or attachment uploaded to email, cloud-based data storage service, or other means of electronic delivery
467 files
Applicable fee
$5.84
- Ten cents per gigabyte for the transmission of public records in an electronic format or for the use of district equipment to send the records electronically
3032.65 MB (3.03265 GB)
$ .30
Total estimated costs
$ 6.14
Payment of fees can be made in the following ways:
- By check via U. S. Mail to Bellingham Public Schools: attention, Records Officer, 1306 Dupont St, Bellingham, WA 98226. Receipt for said payment will be returned via U.S. Mail.
- By cash, check or credit card payment in person at the district office during business hours (8
a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday).
Records will be furnished when fee is received.
We continue to work diligently on this request.
Please feel free to contact me at Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org <mailto:Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org> or 360-676-6520 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
[Shape Description automatically generated with medium confidence]
Dana Smith
Assistant Director, Communications and Community Relations | Public Records Officer | Bellingham Public Schools
-
image001
From: PRA Audit
To Whom It May Concern:
Please find enclosed a check for $6.14 to satisfy the fee associated with the attached public records request.
Thank you.
Bellingham Public Schools
Records Officer
1306 Dupont Street
Bellingham, WA 98226
From: PRA Audit
Have all available records been produced? Thank you.
From: Bellingham Public Schools District
Dear Requestor,
An additional installment of records responsive to your request has been added to our secure file-sharing service, Citrix FileS<https://bellinghampublicschools.sharefile.com/>hare, which we have used for previous installments.
Please let me know if you encounter any difficulties accessing the records.
We continue to work diligently on this request. I anticipate an estimate for a next installment of records by January 13, 2022, if not sooner.
Sincerely,
Dana Smith
Ms. Dana Smith, she/her/hers
Records Officer | Assistant Director, Communications and Community Relations
Bellingham Public Schools
Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org<mailto:Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org> | 360-676-6520
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210714_Ordos_Immunization
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200129_Collins_Employment_emails
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200406_Humphrey_Online_Learning_Policy
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200211_Menke_Jackson_Beyer_HIB_communications
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200206_Chamber_of_Commerce_employees
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200205_Austin_Parkview_bus_turnaround
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200110_Kane_Ronning_discipline_records
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From: PRA Audit
11-16-22:
"We continue to work diligently on this request. I anticipate an estimate for a next installment of records by January 13, 2022, if not sooner."
Today is 1-20-23.
When can we expect records?
From: PRA Audit
1-25-23
Via email to: dana.smith@bellinghamschools.org
11-16-22:
"We continue to work diligently on this request. I anticipate an estimate for a next installment of records by January 13, 2022, if not sooner."
Today is 1-25-23.
When can we expect records?
************************************************
11-16-22
"We continue to work diligently on this request. I anticipate an estimate for a next installment of records by January 13, 2022, if not sooner."
Today is 1-20-23.
When can we expect records?
* NO RESPONSE*
From: PRA Audit
1-31-23
Via email to: dana.smith@bellinghamschools.org
Is this public records request closed?
From: PRA Audit
1-31-23
Via email to: dana.smith@bellinghamschools.org
Is this public records request closed?
From: Bellingham Public Schools District
Jan. 31, 2023
MuckRock News
DEP MR 120963
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, Ma 02144-2516
Dear Requestor,
This letter is a follow-up to your Nov. 5, 2021 email request for records under the Public Records Act.
You requested:
* “all public records requests received by the district from January 1, 2010 through November 4, 2021, as well as a complete electronic copy of the district’s responses to those requests.”
We furnished a first installment of records responsive to this request in March 2022 and a second installment in Nov. 2022.
This letter is an estimate of applicable costs for the third installment of records responsive to this request and instructions for payment.
Documentation of estimated charges:
We have completed our initial reviews of records for installment 2 that are responsive to this request. The estimated costs for installment 2 of records retrieved thus far are $6.14.
- Five cents per each four electronic files or attachment uploaded to email, cloud-based data storage service, or other means of electronic delivery
188 files
Applicable fee
$2.35
- Ten cents per gigabyte for the transmission of public records in an electronic format or for the use of district equipment to send the records electronically
.1095 GB
$ .01
Total estimated costs
$ 2.36
Payment of fees can be made in the following ways:
- By check via U. S. Mail to Bellingham Public Schools: attention, Records Officer, 1306 Dupont St, Bellingham, WA 98226. Receipt for said payment will be returned via U.S. Mail.
- By cash, check or credit card payment in person at the district office during business hours (8
a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday-Friday).
Records will be furnished when fee is received.
We continue to work diligently on this request.
Please feel free to contact me at Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org <mailto:Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org> or 360-676-6520 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
[Shape Description automatically generated with medium confidence]
Dana Smith
Assistant Director, Communications and Community Relations | Public Records Officer | Bellingham Public Schools
-
image001
From: PRA Audit
To Whom It May Concern:
Please find enclosed a check for $6.14 to satisfy the fee associated with the attached public records request.
Thank you.
Bellingham Public Schools
Records Officer
1306 Dupont Street
Bellingham, WA 98226
From: PRA Audit
5-18-23
email to Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org
Is this request now closed? Have all records been produced?
Thanks.
From: Bellingham Public Schools District
Dear Requestor,
Thank you for checking in. We continue to experience an unusually high volume of high-complexity records requests. You can expect an update from me on your request, which we are continuing to process, by the end of the business week.
Thank you!
Dana Smith
From: Bellingham Public Schools District
"Dana Smith has shared the folder '200926_Humphrey tech records' with you. #outlook a {padding:0;} .ExternalClass {width:100%;} .ExternalClass, .ExternalClass p, .ExternalClass span, .ExternalClass font, .ExternalClass td, .ExternalClass div {line-height: 100%;} table td {border-collapse: collapse;} a:hover { text-decoration: underline; }
Dana Smith has shared the folder 200926_Humphrey tech records with you.
Note From Dana:
I've added you to a folder
Click here to view this folder
ShareFile is a tool for sending, receiving, and organizing your business files online. It can be used as a password-protected area for sharing information with clients and partners, and it's an easy way to send files that are too large to e-mail.
Trouble with the above link? You can copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:
https://bellinghampublicschools.sharefile.com/f/fob422d1-21d5-4dea-99ec-6810755e0dc1
Powered By Citrix ShareFile 2023"
-
200926_Humphrey_tech_records
From: Bellingham Public Schools District
"Dana Smith has shared the folder '20190320_Martin responsive records' with you. #outlook a {padding:0;} .ExternalClass {width:100%;} .ExternalClass, .ExternalClass p, .ExternalClass span, .ExternalClass font, .ExternalClass td, .ExternalClass div {line-height: 100%;} table td {border-collapse: collapse;} a:hover { text-decoration: underline; }
Dana Smith has shared the folder 20190320_Martin responsive records with you.
Note From Dana:
I've added you to a folder
Click here to view this folder
ShareFile is a tool for sending, receiving, and organizing your business files online. It can be used as a password-protected area for sharing information with clients and partners, and it's an easy way to send files that are too large to e-mail.
Trouble with the above link? You can copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:
https://bellinghampublicschools.sharefile.com/f/fob45bba-d989-4b5c-b2a6-94d0994262cc
Powered By Citrix ShareFile 2023"
-
20190320_Martin_responsive_records
From: Bellingham Public Schools District
May 26, 2023
MuckRock News
DEP MR 120963
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, Ma 02144-2516
Dear Requestor,
This letter is a follow-up to your Nov. 5, 2021 email request for records under the Public Records Act.
You requested:
* “all public records requests received by the district from January 1, 2010 through November 4, 2021, as well as a complete electronic copy of the district’s responses to those requests.”
We furnished a first installment of records responsive to this request in March 2022 and a second installment in Nov. 2022.
In January we sent an estimate of applicable costs for the third installment of records responsive to this request and instructions for payment, and we have since received said payment.
A third installment of records has been uploaded to Citrix ShareFile. Please let me know immediately if you encounter any difficulties in accessing the records.
We continue to work diligently on this request and estimate further correspondence and an estimate of applicable fees for the next installment of records by June 30, 2023.
Please feel free to contact me at Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org <mailto:Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org> or 360-676-6520 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
[Shape Description automatically generated with medium confidence]
Dana Smith
Assistant Director, Communications and Community Relations | Public Records Officer | Bellingham Public Schools
-
image001
From: Bellingham Public Schools District
May 26, 2023
MuckRock News
DEP MR 120963
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, Ma 02144-2516
Dear Requestor,
This letter is a follow-up to your Nov. 5, 2021 email request for records under the Public Records Act.
You requested:
* “all public records requests received by the district from January 1, 2010 through November 4, 2021, as well as a complete electronic copy of the district’s responses to those requests.”
We furnished a first installment of records responsive to this request in March 2022 and a second installment in Nov. 2022.
In January we sent an estimate of applicable costs for the third installment of records responsive to this request and instructions for payment, and we have since received said payment.
A third installment of records has been uploaded to Citrix ShareFile. Please let me know immediately if you encounter any difficulties in accessing the records.
We continue to work diligently on this request and estimate further correspondence and an estimate of applicable fees for the next installment of records by June 30, 2023.
Please feel free to contact me at Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org <mailto:Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org> or 360-676-6520 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
[Shape Description automatically generated with medium confidence]
Dana Smith
Assistant Director, Communications and Community Relations | Public Records Officer | Bellingham Public Schools
-
image001
From: Bellingham Public Schools District
Dear requestor,
This correspondence is an update on our anticipated date for an estimate for your next installment of records responsive to your Nov. 5, 2021 records request.
We have continued to work diligently on this request and anticipate sending our next estimate of applicable fees by July 14, 2023.
Thank you and please feel free to reach out with any questions.
Sincerely,
Dana Smith
-
image001
From: Bellingham Public Schools District
July 10, 2023
MuckRock News
DEP MR 120963
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, Ma 02144-2516
Dear Requestor,
This letter is a follow-up to your Nov. 5, 2021 email request for records under the Public Records Act. You requested:
* “all public records requests received by the district from January 1, 2010 through November 4, 2021, as well as a complete electronic copy of the district’s responses to those requests.”
We furnished a first installment of records responsive to this request in March 2022, a second installment in Nov. 2022 and a third installment in May 2023.
This letter is an estimate of applicable costs for the fourth installment of records responsive to this request and instructions for payment.
Documentation of estimated charges:
We have completed our initial reviews of records for installment 2 that are responsive to this request. The estimated costs for installment 4 of records retrieved thus far is $47.58.
- Five cents per each four electronic files or attachment uploaded to email, cloud-based data storage service, or other means of electronic delivery
46 electronic files
Applicable fee
$.58
- Ten cents per gigabyte for the transmission of public records in an electronic format or for the use of district equipment to send the records electronically
.0334 GB
n/a, negligible
Ten cents per page for public records scanned into electronic format or for the use of district equipment to scan the records
470
$47.00
Total estimated costs, installment 4
$ 47.58
Payment of fees can be made in the following ways:
* Cash, check or credit card in person at Bellingham Public Schools District Office during business hours (8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Monday-Thursday until August 11; 8 – 4:45 Monday – Friday beginning August 14, 2023)
* Check via U.S. Mail mailed to Attention: Dana Smith, Records Officer, Bellingham Public Schools, 1306 Dupont St, Bellingham WA 98225. Please label both payment envelope and check: Attention Dana Smith, Records Officer. Receipt for USPS payments will be returned via email.
Records will be furnished when the $47.58 fee is received.
Please feel free to contact me at Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org <mailto:Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org> or 360-676-6520 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
[Shape Description automatically generated with medium confidence]
Dana Smith
Assistant Director, Communications and Community Relations | Public Records Officer | Bellingham Public Schools
-
image001
From: PRA Audit
To Whom It May Concern:
Please find enclosed a check for $6.14 to satisfy the fee associated with the attached public records request.
Thank you.
Bellingham Public Schools
Records Officer
1306 Dupont Street
Bellingham, WA 98226
From: Muckrock Staff
Hi Dana,
A check is being mailed to your office with the incorrect fee amount. Please void or return this check to the address below.
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 120963
263 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115
The check number is 11106 with a written amount of $6.14. We are currently in the process of resending a new check with the correct amount.
Thank you for your continued help with this request.
From: Bellingham Public Schools District
Dear Requestor,
Thank you for letting us know about the error with your issued check for the most recent installment we have prepared. If and when we receive the incorrect check, we will communicate with you, and we will process the incorrect check per your directions.
We will release the records once the correct fee is received.
Sincerely,
Dana Smith
Ms. Dana Smith, she/her/hers
Records Officer | Assistant Director, Communications and Community Relations
Bellingham Public Schools
Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org<mailto:Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org> | 360-676-6520
From: PRA Audit
To Whom It May Concern:
Please find enclosed a check for $47.63 to satisfy the fee associated with the attached public records request.
Thank you.
Bellingham Public Schools
Records Officer
1306 Dupont Street
Bellingham, WA 98226
From: Bellingham Public Schools District
September 21, 2023
MuckRock News
DEP MR 120963
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, Ma 02144-2516
Dear Requestor,
This letter is a follow-up to your Nov. 5, 2021 email request for records under the Public Records Act. You requested:
* “all public records requests received by the district from January 1, 2010 through November 4, 2021, as well as a complete electronic copy of the district’s responses to those requests.”
We furnished a first installment of records responsive to this request in March 2022, a second installment in Nov. 2022 and a third installment in May 2023.
In July we sent an estimate of applicable fees for the fourth installment of records ($47.58) and instructions for payment, and we have since received said payment.
A fourth installment of records has been uploaded to Citrix ShareFile. Please let me know immediately if you encounter any difficulties in accessing the records.
Please note that we have destroyed the check erroneously issued for $6.14, which was the wrong amount for installment 4, per your emailed instructions received August 9, 2023.
We continue to work diligently on this request and anticipate further correspondence and an estimate of applicable fees for the next installment of records by October 27, 2023.
Please feel free to contact me at Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org <mailto:Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org> or 360-676-6520 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
[Shape Description automatically generated with medium confidence]
Dana Smith
Assistant Director, Communications and Community Relations | Public Records Officer | Bellingham Public Schools
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image001
From: Bellingham Public Schools District
"Dana Smith has shared the folder 211105 Muckrock with you.
Note From Dana:
I've added you to a folder
Click here to view this folder
ShareFile is a tool for sending, receiving, and organizing your business files online. It can be used as a password-protected area for sharing information with clients and partners, and it's an easy way to send files that are too large to e-mail.
Trouble with the above link? You can copy and paste the following URL into your web browser:
https://bellinghampublicschools.sharefile.com/f/fo0eb90f-843d-4c03-a187-5e9f0fe74ffd"
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211105_Muckrock
From: PRA Audit
12-6-23
via email to "Smith, Dana (Communications)" <Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org>
Have all requested public records been produced? Is this request closed?
From: Bellingham Public Schools District
Dear requester,
Thank you for reaching out. We continue to work diligently on this request, which is involving hundreds of pages of physical records that need to be scanned and processed. Therefore, we are to amending my earlier estimated date for the estimate of fees for the next installment to January 5, 2024, if not sooner.
Sincerely,
Dana Smith
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef>
From: PRA Audit
08-06-2024
via email to "Smith, Dana (Communications)" <Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org>.
Is this request now closed?
Have all responsive public records been produced?
Thank you.
From: PRA Audit
09-16-2024
TO: Bellingham Public Schools Public Records Officer Dana Smith : dana.smith@bellinghamschools.org
Hello,
Please provide a detailed status update as to when a next installment of records will be produced for this Public Records request.
12-06-2023 you gave an estimate of a next installment of records as 01-05-2024.
No installment of responsive public records has been received.
No response to my email request for status on 08-06-2024 has been received.
It has now been over 11 months with no production of any records whatsoever.
WAC 44-06-085
Response to Public Records Act requests.
2(b) Reasonable estimate of time or costs. The office will provide an estimate of the time required to respond to the request, and may provide an estimate of copying costs pursuant to a specific request seeking an estimate of cost. If the requestor believes the amount of time or estimated costs stated are not reasonable, the requestor may petition the public records officer for a formal review under WAC 44-06-120.
Please consider this communication CONSTRUCTIVE NOTICE of intent to seek relief via RCW 42.56.550 - Judicial review of agency actions.
*** CONSTRUCTIVE NOTICE RCW 42.56.520 ***
PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC RECORDS *** ANTICIPATE LITIGATION ***
WAC 44-14-03005 RETENTION OF PUBLIC RECORDS
The lawful destruction of public records is governed by retention schedules. The unlawful destruction of public records can be a crime. RCW 40.16.010 and 40.16.020. An agency is prohibited from destroying a public record, even if it is about to be lawfully destroyed under a retention schedule, if a public records request has been made for that record. RCW 42.56.100. Additional retention requirements might apply if the records may be relevant to actual or anticipated litigation. The agency is required to retain the record until the record request has been resolved.
Note: An agency can be found to violate the Public Records Act and be subject to the attorneys' fees and penalty provision if it prematurely destroys a requested record after a request is made. See Yacobellis v. City of Bellingham, 55 Wn. App. 706, 780 P.2d 272 (1989). However, it is not a violation of the Public Records Act if a record is destroyed prior to an agency's receipt of a public records request for that record. Bldg. Indus. Ass'n of Wash. v. McCarthy, 152 Wn. App. 720, 218 P.3d 196 (2009); West v. Dep't of
Nat. Res., 163 Wn. App. 238, 258 P.3d 78 (2011). The Public Records Act (chapter 42.56 RCW) and the records retention statutes (chapter 40.14 RCW) are two different laws.
*** CONSTRUCTIVE NOTICE RCW 42.56.520 ***
PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC RECORDS *** ANTICIPATE LITIGATION ***
From: Bellingham Public Schools District
Dear Requestor,
We have continued to work to process your rerquest and anticipate an estimate for your next installment by September 30, 2024, if not sooner.
Thank you for your understanding as we had a catastrophic flood in our district office in February and relocated our physical records, in addition to processing a continued high volume of records requests.
Sincerely,
Dana Smith
From: Bellingham Public Schools District
October 17, 2024
MuckRock News
DEP MR 120963
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, Ma 02144-2516
Dear Requestor,
This letter is a follow-up to your Nov. 5, 2021 email request for records under the Public Records Act. You requested:
* "all public records requests received by the district from January 1, 2010 through November 4, 2021, as well as a complete electronic copy of the district's responses to those requests."
We furnished a first installment of records responsive to this request in March 2022, a second installment in Nov. 2022, a third installment in May 2023 and a fourth installment in July 2023. This letter is an estimate of applicable costs for the fifth installment of records responsive to this request and instructions for payment. We have continued to work diligently on your request, in balance with our high volume of records requests, updates to and training for our records staff, and the effects to our records processes resulting from the catastrophic flood and relocation of our district office in winter 2024.
Documentation of estimated charges:
We have completed our initial reviews of records for installment 5 that are responsive to this request. The estimated costs for installment 5 of records retrieved thus far is $196.40.
- Five cents per each four electronic files or attachment uploaded to email, cloud-based data storage service, or other means of electronic delivery
32 electronic files
Applicable fee
$.40
- Ten cents per gigabyte for the transmission of public records in an electronic format or for the use of district equipment to send the records electronically
.0236 GB
n/a, negligible
Ten cents per page for public records scanned into electronic format or for the use of district equipment to scan the records
1960 pages
$196.00
Total estimated costs, installment 5
$ 196.40
Payment of fees can be made in the following ways:
* Cash, check or credit card in person at Bellingham Public Schools District Office during business hours (8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday). If paying via credit card, please make an appointment with me to ensure that our staff who can receive credit card payments are available. Receipt for in-person payment will be issued at time of payment.
* Check via U.S. Mail mailed to:
Attention: Dana Smith, Records Officer
Bellingham Public Schools
1985 Barkley Boulevard
Bellingham, WA 98226.
* Please label both payment envelope and check: Attention Dana Smith, Records Officer.
* Receipt for USPS payments will be returned via email.
* Do not send cash.
Please note that our district office mailing address has changed and update your records accordingly. Correspondence sent to our previous address (1306 Dupont St, Bellingham, WA 98226) may experience considerable delay in delivery.
Records will be furnished when the $196.40 fee is received. Please note that pursuant to RCW 42.56.120 the district is authorized to close our response to your request if payment is not received by November 18, 2024 (30 days).
Please feel free to contact me at Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org <mailto:Dana.Smith@bellinghamschools.org> or 360-676-6520 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
[Shape Description automatically generated with medium confidence]
Dana Smith
Assistant Director, Communications and Community Relations | Public Records Officer | Bellingham Public Schools
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image001
From: Bellingham Public Schools District
November 19, 2024
MuckRock News
DEP MR 120963
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, Ma 02144-2516
Dear Requestor,
This is a followup to your November 5, 2021 emailed request for records under the Public Records Act.
On October 17, I informed you via email that a fifth installment of electronic records had been prepared and was ready for your inspection via our secure file-sharing service, Citrix ShareFile, upon receipt of applicable fees.
Our records show that more than 30 days have elapsed since this communication, and our records show no fee payment has been received by mail or in-person payment at the district office. If this is incorrect, please let me know right away.
As a result and pursuant to RCW 42.56.120 the district is authorized to close our response to your November 5, 2021 request, and this letter memorializes we have done so.
As required by Cousins v. Department of Corrections, we are notifying you that the Washington state Public Records Act's one-year statute of limitations has begun to run, because, having closed the request for the reasons described above, we do not intend to further address the request.
Sincerely,
[Shape Description automatically generated with medium confidence]
Ms. Dana K. Smith | she/her/hers
Assistant Director, Department of Communications and Community Relations | Records Officer
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