Business Insider August 25, 2022 public records request

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Tennessee Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

-All separation agreements and settlements reached with current and former teachers who taught in the district between January 1, 2017 through the day this request is fulfilled.

-All public records relating to any and all claims of misconduct against current and former teachers who taught in the district between January 1, 2017 through the day this request is fulfilled. Such public records should include, but not be limited to, all complaints; allegations; claims; investigatory reports; analyses; summaries; memoranda and/or notes; interview recordings; transcripts and/or notes; reviews; emails, text or other electronic messages, voicemails, and/or other communications and/or correspondence; determinations; decisions; orders; resignation letters; employment reclassification documents; offers in compromise and/or settlement agreements; termination and/or transfer papers; letters of reproval and/or other disciplinary actions, whether imposed or not; referrals to law enforcement, administrative, and/or licensing agencies, departments, and/or bodies; appeals; court filings and/or rulings; and all similar materials notwithstanding the use of other terminology, nomenclature, or categorization by this or other involved public agencies.

To further clarify this request, the scope of the misconduct at issue arises from, relates to, and/or is a consequence of sexual behavior and/or activities with district students, whether currently or previously enrolled, and notwithstanding whether any such behavior and/or activities were proven to have occurred or not. The construction of this request should be understood to be liberal and expansive, such that all public records which may be remotely responsive should be produced in full and may only be withheld and/or redacted only as required by law.

I would like these records in the electronic format that they are stored in, transmitted via email or other digital method; please refrain from sending paper copies of the records.

Rather than provide all responsive records at once, I ask that you provide copies of records on a rolling basis, as they become available.

If you determine that any of the information qualifies for an exemption from disclosure, I ask you to note whether the exemption is discretionary, and if so whether it is necessary in this case to exercise your discretion to withhold the information. In any event, please provide a signed notification citing the legal authorities on which you rely if you determine that any of the information is exempt and will not be disclosed.

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 7 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Kent Hoover, a citizen of Tennessee, in coordination with Insider Staff.

Hello,

Please see attached. Thank you for your help with this request!

Good afternoon, thank you for following up.

In an effort to assist you in processing this request, records regarding “activities with district students” should be interpreted to mean “Sexual Harassment,” “Unwelcome Conduct,” “Hostile Educational Environment,” and/or “Sexual Violence,” involving one or more former or current students.

With respect to the separation and settlement agreements I've requested, please note that I am requesting all such agreements, as indicated in my request, regardless of the underlying reason/rationale for departure.

Hello, I still haven't received any responsive records for this request. I'm hopeful that we can resolve this issue without seeking a judicial remedy through the courts. Can you please advise?

Good afternoon, thanks for the update. As you know or should know, state statute provides that “the requestor be given the option of receiving information in any format in which it is maintained by the agency, including electronic format.” T.C.A. § 8-4-604(a)(1)(A)(ii)(d)

As I understand it from several Knox County School District employees, most if not all of the records I've requested are stored in electronic format. Hence why I've requested them as such.

Hello, I still haven't received any responsive records for this request. I'm hopeful that we can resolve this issue without seeking a judicial remedy through the courts. Can you please advise ASAP?

Thank you

Thanks, but that doesn't actually answer my question. Can you reply to this email by EOD tomorrow, May 17, with copies of all responsive records located to date, as well as an estimated date of completion for any remaining records?

Thank you