CPS: Personnel Files

Dear Miriam:

Thank you for your interest in Chicago Public Schools. Your FOIA request has been submitted. Your FOIA Center reference number for tracking purposes is: N015308-051924
You have requested the following records: To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act., I hereby request the following records:

Please supply the full personnel files of the following individuals:

* Adam Loredo, teacher at Hawthorne Scholastic, previously at Ogden International
* Rashad Talley, interim principal at Wendell Phillips
* Joshua Vander Jagt, ex-Principal at Ogden, Assistant Principal at Hyde Park Academy
* Jezail Jackson, teacher at Wendell Phillips, previously at Ogden International
* Holly Caldwell, Assistant Principal at Wendell Phillips

This includes any resumes, applications, any job recommendations, promotions, professional license credentials and verification records. Please include a work/salary history. Please include any investigative materials - investigative memorandums, disciplinary actions (suspensions, leaves of absence that stem from disciplinary action), incident reports, EOCO investigations, Office of Civil Rights determinations, non-disciplinary memorandum of understandings, non-union misconduct form, full warning resolutions and any complaints or claims/lawsuits/settlements. Please include any safety plans. Please include any separation agreements and any other disclosure agreements.

Because this request is in the public interest for Illinois nonprofit The FOIA Bakery’s work to advocate for public education, please waive any fees in accordance with 5 ILCS § 140/6(c). Feel free to contact me with any questions, or if clarification is needed.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

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. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

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,

Miriam Bhimani

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) responds to all public records requests in accordance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 ILCS 140/1 et seq.
Due to the volume and complexity of requests received in the normal course of business, CPS is extending the time for its initial response to your request by an additional 5 business days (to 10 business days total beginning on the first business day following receipt of the request) pursuant to 5 ILCS 140/3(e)(v) which allows for the examination and evaluation of the requested records by personnel to determine if they are exempt from disclosure under Section 7 of Illinois FOIA or should be revealed only with appropriate deletions.
Upon the completion of a response, CPS will provide the first 50 pages to you at no charge.  If a response is more than 50 pages, a fee of 15¢ per page will be charged for each additional page. Copies of video recordings have a fee of $48. All applicable fees must be paid prior to the copying. CPS will inform you of any fees due if your paper response exceeds 50 pages. You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below and you’ll receive an email when your request has been completed. Thank you for using the CPS FOIA Center.

Track the issue status and respond at: https://cps.mycusthelp.com/WEBAPP//_rs/RequestEdit.aspx?rid=15308

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05/20/2024

Miriam Bhimani
MuckRock News, DEPT MR164011 263 Huntington Ave
Boston MA 02115

RE: Chicago Public Schools FOIA Request N015308-051924 Dear Miriam: Thank you again for using the Chicago Public Schools FOIA Center. Under the Freedom of Information Act, a public body may extend the time to respond to a FOIA request by up to 5 business days for a limited number of reasons. 5 ILCS 140/3(e). We are extending the time to respond to your request by 5 business days for one or more of the following reason(s): (  ) the requested records are stored in whole or in part at other locations than the office having charge of the requested records;
( )  the request requires the collection of a substantial number of specified records;
( ) the request is couched in categorical terms and requires an extensive search for the records responsive to it;
( ) the requested records have not been located in the course of routine search and additional efforts are being made to locate them;
(x) the requested records require examination and evaluation by personnel having the necessary competence and discretion to determine if they are exempt from disclosure under Section 7 of this Act or should be revealed only with appropriate deletions;
(x) the request for records cannot be complied with by the public body within the time limits prescribed by 5 ILCS 140/3 (c) without unduly burdening or interfering with the operations of the public body;
( ) there is need for consultation, which shall be conducted with all practicable speed, with another public body or among two or more components of a public body having a substantial interest in the determination or in the subject matter of the request. Sincerely,
Patricia Majchrowicz
Freedom of Information Act Officer
Chicago Public Schools

Please note that District Offices will be closed on Monday, May 27th in observance of Memorial Day.

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06/04/2024 Miriam Bhimani
Dear Miriam: RE: Chicago Public Schools FOIA Request N015308-051924 Thank you again for using the Chicago Public Schools FOIA Center. We are writing regarding your Freedom of Information Act Request for the following records: To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act., I hereby request the following records:

Please supply the full personnel files of the following individuals:

* Adam Loredo, teacher at Hawthorne Scholastic, previously at Ogden International
* Rashad Talley, interim principal at Wendell Phillips
* Joshua Vander Jagt, ex-Principal at Ogden, Assistant Principal at Hyde Park Academy
* Jezail Jackson, teacher at Wendell Phillips, previously at Ogden International
* Holly Caldwell, Assistant Principal at Wendell Phillips

This includes any resumes, applications, any job recommendations, promotions, professional license credentials and verification records. Please include a work/salary history. Please include any investigative materials - investigative memorandums, disciplinary actions (suspensions, leaves of absence that stem from disciplinary action), incident reports, EOCO investigations, Office of Civil Rights determinations, non-disciplinary memorandum of understandings, non-union misconduct form, full warning resolutions and any complaints or claims/lawsuits/settlements. Please include any safety plans. Please include any separation agreements and any other disclosure agreements.

Because this request is in the public interest for Illinois nonprofit The FOIA Bakery’s work to advocate for public education, please waive any fees in accordance with 5 ILCS § 140/6(c). Feel free to contact me with any questions, or if clarification is needed.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

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. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

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,

Miriam Bhimani

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ Please note that the CPS FOIA Office is still gathering responsive documents and we are working diligently on fulfilling your request. Please allow 10 additional business days for a response. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you, Patricia Majchrowicz Freedom of Information Act Officer Chicago Public Schools

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06/18/2024
Miriam Bhimani
Dear Miriam:
RE: Chicago Public Schools FOIA Request N015308-051924
Thank you for using the Chicago Public Schools FOIA Center. You requested the following:
To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act., I hereby request the following records:

Please supply the full personnel files of the following individuals:

* Adam Loredo, teacher at Hawthorne Scholastic, previously at Ogden International
* Rashad Talley, interim principal at Wendell Phillips
* Joshua Vander Jagt, ex-Principal at Ogden, Assistant Principal at Hyde Park Academy
* Jezail Jackson, teacher at Wendell Phillips, previously at Ogden International
* Holly Caldwell, Assistant Principal at Wendell Phillips

This includes any resumes, applications, any job recommendations, promotions, professional license credentials and verification records. Please include a work/salary history. Please include any investigative materials - investigative memorandums, disciplinary actions (suspensions, leaves of absence that stem from disciplinary action), incident reports, EOCO investigations, Office of Civil Rights determinations, non-disciplinary memorandum of understandings, non-union misconduct form, full warning resolutions and any complaints or claims/lawsuits/settlements. Please include any safety plans. Please include any separation agreements and any other disclosure agreements.

Because this request is in the public interest for Illinois nonprofit The FOIA Bakery’s work to advocate for public education, please waive any fees in accordance with 5 ILCS § 140/6(c). Feel free to contact me with any questions, or if clarification is needed.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

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. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

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,

Miriam Bhimani

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
RESPONSE: Documents responsive to your request are available to download via the CPS FOIA Center at www.cps.edu/FOIARequests . Please log in with your username and password to access the records. Please note that certain private information (personal descriptions, employee ID numbers, college transcripts, social security numbers, citizenship status, signatures, personal addresses, medical information, etc.) was redacted pursuant to 5 ILCS 140/7. Specifically, section 7(1)(b) which exempts certain private information as defined by section 2(c-5) and section 7(1)(c) which exempts personal information contained within public records, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, unless the disclosure is consented to in writing by the individual subject of the information. “Unwarranted invasion of personal privacy” means the disclosure of information that is highly personal or objectionable to a reasonable person and in which the subject’s right to privacy outweighs any legitimate public interest in obtaining the information. 5 ILCS 140/7(1)(a) exempts “ information specifically prohibited from disclosure by federal or State Law … ” (5 ILCS 140/7(1)(a)) Specifically, 105 ILCS 5/10-21.9 (b) states that “ any information concerning the record of convictions obtained by the president of the school board or the regional superintendent shall be confidential and may only be transmitted to the superintendent of the school district or his designee, the appropriate regional superintendent if the check was requested by the school district, the presidents of the appropriate school boards if the check was requested from the Department of State Police by the regional superintendent, the State Superintendent of Education, the State Teacher Certification Board, any other person necessary to the decision of hiring the applicant for employment, or for clarification purposes the Department of State Police or Statewide Sex Offender Database, or both.”
Portions of this request that include personnel evaluations are redacted entirely in accordance with section 7(1)(a) of FOIA (5 ILCS 140/7(1)(a)) which exempts from public release information specifically prohibited from disclosure by federal or State law or rules and regulations implementing federal or State law and also in accordance with section 7.5(q) of the FOIA (5 ILCS 140/7.5(q)) which exempts from public release information prohibited from being disclosed by the Personnel Records Review Act [820 ILCS 40/0.01 et seq.] Certain records are being withheld entirely pursuant to 5 ILCS 140/7(1)(f) as factual information inextricably intertwined in ongoing investigation and processes as well as 5 ILCS 140/7(1)(n), which exempts from release records relating to the adjudication of employee discipline and grievance matters except for records reflecting the final outcome. Section 7(d)(iv) of the FOIA exempts confidential information furnished only by the confidential source, or persons who file complaints with or provide information to administrative, investigative, law enforcement, or penal agencies. Certain student information has been redacted pursuant to 5 ILCS 140/7.5 (r) which exempts from inspection or copying information prohibited from being disclosed by the Illinois School Student Records Act (ISSRA). ISSRA generally prohibits the disclosure of “school student records” and defines a “school student record” as “any writing or other recorded information concerning a student and by which a student may be individually identified, maintained by a school or at is direction or by an employee of a school, regardless of how or where the information is stored.” (105 ILCS 10/2(d). Release of a minor’s records may only be authorized by the parent or guardian in accordance with by the Illinois School Student Records Act (105 ILCS 10/1 et seq.). Records of discipline more than four years old are exempt from disclosure pursuant to section 7.5(q) of the FOIA (5 ILCS 140/7.5(q)), which exempts information prohibited from being disclosed by the Personnel Records Review Act [820 ILCS 40/0.01 et seq.]. 820 ILCS 40/8 of the Personnel Records Review Act states that “an employer shall review a personnel record before releasing information to a third party and, except when the release is ordered to a party in a legal action or arbitration, delete disciplinary reports, letters of reprimand, or other records of disciplinary action which are more than 4 years old.”
You have a right to have the denial of your request reviewed by the Public Access Counselor (PAC) at the Office of the Illinois Attorney General. 5 ILCS 140/9.5(a). You can file your Request for Review with the PAC by writing to: Leah Bartelt; Public Access Counselor Office of the Attorney General 500 South 2nd Street Springfield, Illinois 62706 E-mail: public.access@ilag.gov 877-299-3642 You also have the right to seek judicial review of your denial by filing a lawsuit in the State circuit court. 5 ILCS 140/11. If you choose to file a Request for Review with the PAC, you must do so within 60 calendar days of the date of this denial letter. 5 ILCS 140/9.5(a). Please note that you must include a copy of your original FOIA request and this denial letter when filing a Request for Review with the PAC. Sincerely, Patricia Majchrowicz Freedom of Information Act Officer Chicago Public Schools