Dear Sir or Madam:

As the Ridgewood Public Schools (“District”) records custodian, I received
your Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”) request on January 21, 2024.  The
seven (7) business day deadline to respond to your request is January 31,
2024. As such, the District is timely responding to your OPRA request in
accordance with New Jersey law.

Your OPRA request seeks the following records:

I request copies of all advertisements utilized to solicit applications
for the job postings related to the five positions listed under section
"i-a. 2023-2024 School Year - Appointments" on the January 22 meeting
agenda. Additionally, kindly provide copies of all applications submitted
in response to those advertisements.

Five positions mentioned above in OPRA request 1 and 2 are:

Second Grade Ridge

Special Education (Mathematics) (non-tenure track)

LOA Latin(non-tenure track)

Budget, Accounting, and Reporting Specialist

Payroll Specialist/ Bookkeeper

The District requires additional time to compile, review, and redact (if
necessary) the documents that may be responsive to your request.  The
District anticipates finalizing your request by February 7, 2024.  The
District also reserves the right to request an additional extension of
time, if necessary.  See Scheeler v. New Jersey Department of Educ., GRC
Complaint No. 2014-123 (2016).

Very truly yours,

Julie Kot
Business Administrator/Board Secretary

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: anonymous <[1][OPRA #57469 email]>
Date: Sun, Jan 21, 2024 at 10:43 PM
Subject: OPRA request - Count of applicants and Interviews
To: OPRA requests at Ridgewood Public School District
<[2][Ridgewood Public School District request email]>

Dear Ridgewood Public School District,

This is a request for public records made under OPRA and the common law
right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form. Please
acknowledge receipt of this message.
  Records requested:

This request comprises two distinct OPRA requests. Should the first
request be furnished, the second request should be considered withdrawn.
In the event that the district opts not to disclose the 1st request,
kindly proceed with treating part 2 as the Open Public Records Act (OPRA)
request.

First OPRA Request (Preferred and reveals less information):
Kindly furnish the count of applicants for each of the five positions
specified under section "i-a. 2023-2024 School Year - Appointments" on the
January 22 meeting agenda. Additionally, please provide the count of
applicants who were afforded the opportunity for an interview for each
respective position. I am specifically seeking numerical counts. The
Supreme Court decision validates this OPRA request, as the information I
am inquiring about is electronically stored within the district's HR
Management Systems, as outlined in the following link:
[3]https://www.pashmanstein.com/publication...

Second (alternative OPRA Request):
I request copies of all advertisements utilized to solicit applications
for the job postings related to the five positions listed under section
"i-a. 2023-2024 School Year - Appointments" on the January 22 meeting
agenda. Additionally, kindly provide copies of all applications submitted
in response to those advertisements.

Five positions mentioned above in OPRA request 1 and 2 are:
Second Grade Ridge
Special Education (Mathematics) (non-tenure track)
LOA Latin(non-tenure track)
Budget, Accounting, and Reporting Specialist
Payroll Specialist/ Bookkeeper

Yours faithfully,
Anonymous

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please deliver records electronically via email to the below UNIQUE
address for all replies to this request:
[4][OPRA #57469 email]

Is [5][Ridgewood Public School District request email] the wrong address for OPRA requests to
Ridgewood Public School District? If so, please contact us using this
form:
[6]https://opramachine.com/change_request/n...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[7]https://opramachine.com/help/officers

View this OPRA request & responses online:
[8]https://opramachine.com/request/count_of...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an OPRA custodian, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's website.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Confidentiality notice: The information contained in this message (email
and any attachments) is intended only for the designated recipient(s). Any
review, dissemination, distribution, copying or other use of this message
is prohibited by anyone other than the designated recipient. If you have
received this message in error, notify the sender immediately and delete
the original message from your e-mail system and/or computer database.

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Public record notice: You are advised that e-mail correspondence and
attachments between the public and the Ridgewood Board of Education are
obtainable by any person who files a request under the NJ Open Public
Records Act (OPRA) unless it is subject to a specific OPRA exception. You
should have no expectation that the content of e-mails sent to or from
school district e-mail addresses, or between the public and school
district officials and employees, will remain private.
--

Julie Yohana

Assistant to the Business Administrator and Manager of IT

Ridgewood Public Schools
     
201-670-2700 x10543

[9]ridgewood.k12.nj.us

[10][IMG][11][IMG][12][IMG][13][IMG] [14][IMG]

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Confidentiality notice: The information contained in this message (email
and any attachments) is intended only for the designated recipient(s). Any
review, dissemination, distribution, copying or other use of this message
is prohibited by anyone other than the designated recipient. If you have
received this message in error, notify the sender immediately and delete
the original message from your e-mail system and/or computer database.

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Public record notice: You are advised that e-mail correspondence and
attachments between the public and the Ridgewood Board of Education are
obtainable by any person who files a request under the NJ Open Public
Records Act (OPRA) unless it is subject to a specific OPRA exception. You
should have no expectation that the content of e-mails sent to or from
school district e-mail addresses, or between the public and school
district officials and employees, will remain private.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[Ridgewood Public School District request email]
3. https://www.pashmanstein.com/publication...
4. mailto:[email address]
5. mailto:[Ridgewood Public School District request email]
6. https://opramachine.com/change_request/n...
7. https://opramachine.com/help/officers
8. https://opramachine.com/request/count_of...
9. http://www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us/
10. https://twitter.com/RwdPubSchools
11. https://www.facebook.com/RidgewoodPublic...
12. https://www.instagram.com/ridgewoodpubli...
13. https://www.threads.net/@ridgewoodpublic...
14. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL...

hide quoted sections

Dear Sir/Madam:  

The Ridgewood Public Schools (“District”) records custodian received your
Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”) and common law requests (“Requests”) on
January 22, 2024. On January 31, 2024, the District obtained an extension
of time to respond to your Requests until February 7, 2024. As such, the
District is timely responding to your Requests in accordance with New
Jersey law.

Your Requests seek the following:  

This request comprises two distinct OPRA requests. Should the first
request be furnished, the second request should be considered withdrawn.
In the event that the district opts not to disclose the 1st request,
kindly proceed with treating part 2 as the Open Public Records Act (OPRA)
request.

First OPRA Request (Preferred and reveals less information):

Kindly furnish the count of applicants for each of the five positions
specified under section "i-a. 2023-2024 School Year - Appointments" on the
January 22 meeting agenda. Additionally, please provide the count of
applicants who were afforded the opportunity for an interview for each
respective position. I am specifically seeking numerical counts. The
Supreme Court decision validates this OPRA request, as the information I
am inquiring about is electronically stored within the district's HR
Management Systems, as outlined in the following link: 

[1]https://www.pashmanstein.com/publication...

Second (alternative OPRA Request):

I request copies of all advertisements utilized to solicit applications
for the job postings related to the five positions listed under section
"i-a. 2023-2024 School Year - Appointments" on the January 22 meeting
agenda. Additionally, kindly provide copies of all applications submitted
in response to those advertisements.

Five positions mentioned above in OPRA request 1 and 2 are:

Second Grade Ridge

Special Education (Mathematics) (non-tenure track)

LOA Latin (non-tenure track)

Budget, Accounting, and Reporting Specialist

Payroll Specialist/ Bookkeeper

Please be advised that your first Request is invalid as it constitutes a
request for information. Please note that OPRA operates to make
identifiable government records “readily accessible for inspection,
copying, or examination.”  N.J.S.A.  47:1A-1; MAG Entertainment, LLC v.
Div. of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 375 N.J. Super. 534, 546 (App. Div.
2005).  In MAG, the court opined, “[w]hile OPRA provides an alternative
means of access to government documents not otherwise exempted from its
reach, it is not intended as a research tool . . . to force government
officials to identify and siphon useful information.” Id. at 547. “Under
OPRA, agencies are required to disclose only ‘identifiable’ government
records not otherwise exempt. Wholesale requests for general information
to be analyzed, collated and compiled by the responding government entity
are not encompassed therein.”  Id. at 549; see also Bent v. Stafford
Police Dep’t, 381 N.J. Super. 30, 37 (App. Div. 2005) (holding that OPRA
only allows requests for records as contrasted from information, and to
qualify under OPRA a request must reasonably identify a record and not
generally data, information or statistics).  

Accordingly, your first Request for a count of applicants and interviewees
is a request for information, rather than a specifically identifiable
government record and is therefore outside the scope of OPRA. 

With respect to your second Request, please be advised that the District
conducted a good-faith search and identified 63 pages of responsive
records. The table below identifies the records that are being denied in
whole or in part, as well as the legal basis for each denial, as required
by N.J.S.A. 47:1A-6.

If records are If records were List the legal
List of all records disclosed with denied in their explanation and
provided, with redactions, entirety, give statutory citation
redactions, or denied give a general a general for the denial of
in their entirety. nature nature access to records
description of description of in their entirety
the redactions. the record. or with redactions.
N.J.S.A. § 47:1A-9b
provides that OPRA
“shall not abrogate
or erode any
executive or
legislative
privilege or grant
of confidentiality
heretofore
established or
recognized by . . .
Executive Order of
the Governor.”
Executive Order 26
(McGreevey 2002)
exempts employment
applications from
public access.  See
Moreira v.
Elizabeth Bd. of
Educ., GRC
Complaint No.
2017-24 (2019);
Deutsch v. NJ Civil
Application of Ryan Service Commission,
Aaron Bowman with GRC Complaint No.
respect to the Budget, Employment 2011-631 (2013);
Accounting, and Application Toscano v. NJ
Reporting Specialist Department of Human
position (12 pages) Services, Div. of
Health Services,
GRC Complaint No.
2010-147 (2011). 

Further,
applications
constitute exempt
“personnel records”
within the meaning
of N.J.S.A. §
47:1A-10 that do
not all within any
of the statutory
exceptions that may
otherwise allow for
public access under
particular
circumstances.
Accordingly, the
District is
precluded from
releasing the
responsive
application.
N.J.S.A. § 47:1A-9b
provides that OPRA
“shall not abrogate
or erode any
executive or
legislative
privilege or grant
of confidentiality
heretofore
established or
recognized by . . .
Executive Order of
the Governor.”
Executive Order 26
(McGreevey 2002)
exempts employment
applications from
public access.  See
Moreira v.
Elizabeth Bd. of
Educ., GRC
Complaint No.
2017-24 (2019);
Application of Rachel Deutsch v. NJ Civil
Dittamo with respect Service Commission,
to the Elementary GRC Complaint No.
Teacher – Grade 2 at Employment 2011-631 (2013);
Ridge Elementary Application Toscano v. NJ
School position (11 Department of Human
pages) Services, Div. of
Health Services,
GRC Complaint No.
2010-147 (2011). 

Further,
applications
constitute exempt
“personnel records”
within the meaning
of N.J.S.A. §
47:1A-10 that do
not all within any
of the statutory
exceptions that may
otherwise allow for
public access under
particular
circumstances.
Accordingly, the
District is
precluded from
releasing the
responsive
application.
N.J.S.A. § 47:1A-9b
provides that OPRA
“shall not abrogate
or erode any
executive or
legislative
privilege or grant
of confidentiality
heretofore
established or
recognized by . . .
Executive Order of
the Governor.”
Executive Order 26
(McGreevey 2002)
exempts employment
applications from
public access.  See
Moreira v.
Elizabeth Bd. of
Educ., GRC
Complaint No.
2017-24 (2019);
Deutsch v. NJ Civil
Application of Service Commission,
Patricia Zimmer with GRC Complaint No.
respect to the Payroll Employment 2011-631 (2013);
Specialist/Bookkeeper Application Toscano v. NJ
position (13 pages) Department of Human
Services, Div. of
Health Services,
GRC Complaint No.
2010-147 (2011). 

Further,
applications
constitute exempt
“personnel records”
within the meaning
of N.J.S.A. §
47:1A-10 that do
not all within any
of the statutory
exceptions that may
otherwise allow for
public access under
particular
circumstances.
Accordingly, the
District is
precluded from
releasing the
responsive
application.
N.J.S.A. § 47:1A-9b
provides that OPRA
“shall not abrogate
or erode any
executive or
legislative
privilege or grant
of confidentiality
heretofore
established or
recognized by . . .
Executive Order of
the Governor.”
Executive Order 26
(McGreevey 2002)
exempts employment
applications from
public access.  See
Moreira v.
Elizabeth Bd. of
Educ., GRC
Complaint No.
2017-24 (2019);
Deutsch v. NJ Civil
Application of Hugh Service Commission,
Gavin Wynne with GRC Complaint No.
respect to the Latin Employment 2011-631 (2013);
Teacher – Leave Application Toscano v. NJ
Replacement position Department of Human
(22 pages) Services, Div. of
Health Services,
GRC Complaint No.
2010-147 (2011). 

Further,
applications
constitute exempt
“personnel records”
within the meaning
of N.J.S.A. §
47:1A-10 that do
not all within any
of the statutory
exceptions that may
otherwise allow for
public access under
particular
circumstances.
Accordingly, the
District is
precluded from
releasing the
responsive
application.

Your Requests are now deemed answered and closed.

Sincerely,

Julie Kot

Business Administrator/Board Secretary 

Enclosures

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Julie Yohana <[2][email address]>
Date: Wed, Jan 31, 2024 at 2:13 PM
Subject: Fwd: OPRA request - Count of applicants and Interviews
To: <[3][OPRA #57469 email]>

Dear Sir or Madam:

As the Ridgewood Public Schools (“District”) records custodian, I received
your Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”) request on January 21, 2024.  The
seven (7) business day deadline to respond to your request is January 31,
2024. As such, the District is timely responding to your OPRA request in
accordance with New Jersey law.

Your OPRA request seeks the following records:

I request copies of all advertisements utilized to solicit applications
for the job postings related to the five positions listed under section
"i-a. 2023-2024 School Year - Appointments" on the January 22 meeting
agenda. Additionally, kindly provide copies of all applications submitted
in response to those advertisements.

Five positions mentioned above in OPRA request 1 and 2 are:

Second Grade Ridge

Special Education (Mathematics) (non-tenure track)

LOA Latin(non-tenure track)

Budget, Accounting, and Reporting Specialist

Payroll Specialist/ Bookkeeper

The District requires additional time to compile, review, and redact (if
necessary) the documents that may be responsive to your request.  The
District anticipates finalizing your request by February 7, 2024.  The
District also reserves the right to request an additional extension of
time, if necessary.  See Scheeler v. New Jersey Department of Educ., GRC
Complaint No. 2014-123 (2016).

Very truly yours,

Julie Kot
Business Administrator/Board Secretary

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: anonymous <[4][OPRA #57469 email]>
Date: Sun, Jan 21, 2024 at 10:43 PM
Subject: OPRA request - Count of applicants and Interviews
To: OPRA requests at Ridgewood Public School District
<[5][Ridgewood Public School District request email]>

Dear Ridgewood Public School District,

This is a request for public records made under OPRA and the common law
right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form. Please
acknowledge receipt of this message.
  Records requested:

This request comprises two distinct OPRA requests. Should the first
request be furnished, the second request should be considered withdrawn.
In the event that the district opts not to disclose the 1st request,
kindly proceed with treating part 2 as the Open Public Records Act (OPRA)
request.

First OPRA Request (Preferred and reveals less information):
Kindly furnish the count of applicants for each of the five positions
specified under section "i-a. 2023-2024 School Year - Appointments" on the
January 22 meeting agenda. Additionally, please provide the count of
applicants who were afforded the opportunity for an interview for each
respective position. I am specifically seeking numerical counts. The
Supreme Court decision validates this OPRA request, as the information I
am inquiring about is electronically stored within the district's HR
Management Systems, as outlined in the following link:
[6]https://www.pashmanstein.com/publication...

Second (alternative OPRA Request):
I request copies of all advertisements utilized to solicit applications
for the job postings related to the five positions listed under section
"i-a. 2023-2024 School Year - Appointments" on the January 22 meeting
agenda. Additionally, kindly provide copies of all applications submitted
in response to those advertisements.

Five positions mentioned above in OPRA request 1 and 2 are:
Second Grade Ridge
Special Education (Mathematics) (non-tenure track)
LOA Latin(non-tenure track)
Budget, Accounting, and Reporting Specialist
Payroll Specialist/ Bookkeeper

Yours faithfully,
Anonymous

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please deliver records electronically via email to the below UNIQUE
address for all replies to this request:
[7][OPRA #57469 email]

Is [8][Ridgewood Public School District request email] the wrong address for OPRA requests to
Ridgewood Public School District? If so, please contact us using this
form:
[9]https://opramachine.com/change_request/n...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[10]https://opramachine.com/help/officers

View this OPRA request & responses online:
[11]https://opramachine.com/request/count_of...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an OPRA custodian, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's website.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Confidentiality notice: The information contained in this message (email
and any attachments) is intended only for the designated recipient(s). Any
review, dissemination, distribution, copying or other use of this message
is prohibited by anyone other than the designated recipient. If you have
received this message in error, notify the sender immediately and delete
the original message from your e-mail system and/or computer database.

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Public record notice: You are advised that e-mail correspondence and
attachments between the public and the Ridgewood Board of Education are
obtainable by any person who files a request under the NJ Open Public
Records Act (OPRA) unless it is subject to a specific OPRA exception. You
should have no expectation that the content of e-mails sent to or from
school district e-mail addresses, or between the public and school
district officials and employees, will remain private.
--

Julie Yohana

Assistant to the Business Administrator and Manager of IT

Ridgewood Public Schools
     
201-670-2700 x10543

[12]ridgewood.k12.nj.us

[13][IMG][14][IMG][15][IMG][16][IMG] [17][IMG]

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Confidentiality notice: The information contained in this message (email
and any attachments) is intended only for the designated recipient(s). Any
review, dissemination, distribution, copying or other use of this message
is prohibited by anyone other than the designated recipient. If you have
received this message in error, notify the sender immediately and delete
the original message from your e-mail system and/or computer database.

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Public record notice: You are advised that e-mail correspondence and
attachments between the public and the Ridgewood Board of Education are
obtainable by any person who files a request under the NJ Open Public
Records Act (OPRA) unless it is subject to a specific OPRA exception. You
should have no expectation that the content of e-mails sent to or from
school district e-mail addresses, or between the public and school
district officials and employees, will remain private.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.pashmanstein.com/publication...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. mailto:[email address]
5. mailto:[Ridgewood Public School District request email]
6. https://www.pashmanstein.com/publication...
7. mailto:[email address]
8. mailto:[Ridgewood Public School District request email]
9. https://opramachine.com/change_request/n...
10. https://opramachine.com/help/officers
11. https://opramachine.com/request/count_of...
12. http://www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us/
13. https://twitter.com/RwdPubSchools
14. https://www.facebook.com/RidgewoodPublic...
15. https://www.instagram.com/ridgewoodpubli...
16. https://www.threads.net/@ridgewoodpublic...
17. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL...

hide quoted sections

Dear Sir/Madam:  

The Ridgewood Public Schools (“District”) records custodian received your
Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”) request on February 6, 2024. The seven
business day deadline to respond to your request is February 16, 2024. As
such, the District is timely responding to your OPRA request in accordance
with New Jersey law.

Your request is set forth below:  

I request copies of all advertisements utilized to solicit applications
for the job postings related to the five positions listed under section
"i-a. 2023-2024 School Year - Appointments" on the January 22 meeting
agenda. Additionally, kindly provide copies of all applications submitted
in response to those advertisements.

 Five positions mentioned above in OPRA request 1 and 2 are:

 Second Grade Ridge

 Special Education (Mathematics) (non-tenure track)

 LOA Latin (non-tenure track)

 Budget, Accounting, and Reporting Specialist

 Payroll Specialist/ Bookkeeper

The District responded to the request on February 2, 2024.  On February 5,
2024, you submitted another request as follows:  

In the enclosed response, only one job posting was included directly from
the external source, while the remaining job postings were presented on
district letterhead. I am seeking verifiable documentation confirming that
these positions were genuinely posted for an external audience and
requesting copies of such external postings. If documented evidence is
available for one position, it is presumed to be available for all others,
unless there are instances where certain positions were not advertised
externally

Also, please add a new OPRA request.  Please provide cover letters
submitted by each applicant for these five positions.

Attached Please find sixteen (16) pages of records responsive to your
request.  Redactions have been made to remove personal telephone number
from the records to protect the citizen’s reasonable expectation of
privacy pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 (providing that “a public agency has
a responsibility and an obligation to safeguard from public access a
citizen’s personal information with which it has been entrusted when
disclosure thereof would violate the citizen’s reasonable expectation of
privacy); See also N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1 (exempting that portion of any
document which discloses the “unlisted telephone number of any person”
from the definition of a “government record”).

Your OPRA request is now deemed answered and closed.

Sincerelys,

Julie Kot

Business Administrator/Board Secretary 

Enclosures

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: anonymous <[1][OPRA #57469 email]>
Date: Mon, Feb 5, 2024 at 7:31 PM
Subject: Internal review of OPRA request - Count of applicants and
Interviews
To: Julie Yohana <[2][email address]>

Dear Julie Yohana,

In the enclosed response, only one job posting was included directly from
the external source, while the remaining job postings were presented on
district letterhead. I am seeking verifiable documentation confirming that
these positions were genuinely posted for an external audience and
requesting copies of such external postings. If documented evidence is
available for one position, it is presumed to be available for all others,
unless there are instances where certain positions were not advertised
externally.

Also, please add a new OPRA request:
Please provide cover letters submitted by each applicant for these five
positions.

Yours sincerely,

anonymous

-----Original Message-----

Dear Sir/Madam:  

 The Ridgewood Public Schools (“District”) records custodian received your
 Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”) and common law requests (“Requests”) on
 January 22, 2024. On January 31, 2024, the District obtained an extension
 of time to respond to your Requests until February 7, 2024. As such, the
 District is timely responding to your Requests in accordance with New
 Jersey law.

 Your Requests seek the following:  

 This request comprises two distinct OPRA requests. Should the first
 request be furnished, the second request should be considered withdrawn.
 In the event that the district opts not to disclose the 1st request,
 kindly proceed with treating part 2 as the Open Public Records Act (OPRA)
 request.

 First OPRA Request (Preferred and reveals less information):

 Kindly furnish the count of applicants for each of the five positions
 specified under section "i-a. 2023-2024 School Year - Appointments" on
the
 January 22 meeting agenda. Additionally, please provide the count of
 applicants who were afforded the opportunity for an interview for each
 respective position. I am specifically seeking numerical counts. The
 Supreme Court decision validates this OPRA request, as the information I
 am inquiring about is electronically stored within the district's HR
 Management Systems, as outlined in the following link: 

 [1][3]https://www.pashmanstein.com/publication...

 Second (alternative OPRA Request):

 I request copies of all advertisements utilized to solicit applications
 for the job postings related to the five positions listed under section
 "i-a. 2023-2024 School Year - Appointments" on the January 22 meeting
 agenda. Additionally, kindly provide copies of all applications submitted
 in response to those advertisements.

 Five positions mentioned above in OPRA request 1 and 2 are:

 Second Grade Ridge

 Special Education (Mathematics) (non-tenure track)

 LOA Latin (non-tenure track)

 Budget, Accounting, and Reporting Specialist

 Payroll Specialist/ Bookkeeper

 Please be advised that your first Request is invalid as it constitutes a
 request for information. Please note that OPRA operates to make
 identifiable government records “readily accessible for inspection,
 copying, or examination.”  N.J.S.A.  47:1A-1; MAG Entertainment, LLC v.
 Div. of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 375 N.J. Super. 534, 546 (App. Div.
 2005).  In MAG, the court opined, “[w]hile OPRA provides an alternative
 means of access to government documents not otherwise exempted from its
 reach, it is not intended as a research tool . . . to force government
 officials to identify and siphon useful information.” Id. at 547. “Under
 OPRA, agencies are required to disclose only ‘identifiable’ government
 records not otherwise exempt. Wholesale requests for general information
 to be analyzed, collated and compiled by the responding government entity
 are not encompassed therein.”  Id. at 549; see also Bent v. Stafford
 Police Dep’t, 381 N.J. Super. 30, 37 (App. Div. 2005) (holding that OPRA
 only allows requests for records as contrasted from information, and to
 qualify under OPRA a request must reasonably identify a record and not
 generally data, information or statistics).  

 Accordingly, your first Request for a count of applicants and
interviewees
 is a request for information, rather than a specifically identifiable
 government record and is therefore outside the scope of OPRA. 

 With respect to your second Request, please be advised that the District
 conducted a good-faith search and identified 63 pages of responsive
 records. The table below identifies the records that are being denied in
 whole or in part, as well as the legal basis for each denial, as required
 by N.J.S.A. 47:1A-6.

 If records are If records were List the legal
 List of all records disclosed with denied in their explanation and
 provided, with redactions, entirety, give statutory citation
 redactions, or denied give a general a general for the denial of
 in their entirety. nature nature access to records
 description of description of in their entirety
 the redactions. the record. or with redactions.
 N.J.S.A. § 47:1A-9b
 provides that OPRA
 “shall not abrogate
 or erode any
 executive or
 legislative
 privilege or grant
 of confidentiality
 heretofore
 established or
 recognized by . . .
 Executive Order of
 the Governor.”
 Executive Order 26
 (McGreevey 2002)
 exempts employment
 applications from
 public access.  See
 Moreira v.
 Elizabeth Bd. of
 Educ., GRC
 Complaint No.
 2017-24 (2019);
 Deutsch v. NJ Civil
 Application of Ryan Service Commission,
 Aaron Bowman with GRC Complaint No.
 respect to the Budget, Employment 2011-631 (2013);
 Accounting, and Application Toscano v. NJ
 Reporting Specialist Department of Human
 position (12 pages) Services, Div. of
 Health Services,
 GRC Complaint No.
 2010-147 (2011). 

 Further,
 applications
 constitute exempt
 “personnel records”
 within the meaning
 of N.J.S.A. §
 47:1A-10 that do
 not all within any
 of the statutory
 exceptions that may
 otherwise allow for
 public access under
 particular
 circumstances.
 Accordingly, the
 District is
 precluded from
 releasing the
 responsive
 application.
 N.J.S.A. § 47:1A-9b
 provides that OPRA
 “shall not abrogate
 or erode any
 executive or
 legislative
 privilege or grant
 of confidentiality
 heretofore
 established or
 recognized by . . .
 Executive Order of
 the Governor.”
 Executive Order 26
 (McGreevey 2002)
 exempts employment
 applications from
 public access.  See
 Moreira v.
 Elizabeth Bd. of
 Educ., GRC
 Complaint No.
 2017-24 (2019);
 Application of Rachel Deutsch v. NJ Civil
 Dittamo with respect Service Commission,
 to the Elementary GRC Complaint No.
 Teacher – Grade 2 at Employment 2011-631 (2013);
 Ridge Elementary Application Toscano v. NJ
 School position (11 Department of Human
 pages) Services, Div. of
 Health Services,
 GRC Complaint No.
 2010-147 (2011). 

 Further,
 applications
 constitute exempt
 “personnel records”
 within the meaning
 of N.J.S.A. §
 47:1A-10 that do
 not all within any
 of the statutory
 exceptions that may
 otherwise allow for
 public access under
 particular
 circumstances.
 Accordingly, the
 District is
 precluded from
 releasing the
 responsive
 application.
 N.J.S.A. § 47:1A-9b
 provides that OPRA
 “shall not abrogate
 or erode any
 executive or
 legislative
 privilege or grant
 of confidentiality
 heretofore
 established or
 recognized by . . .
 Executive Order of
 the Governor.”
 Executive Order 26
 (McGreevey 2002)
 exempts employment
 applications from
 public access.  See
 Moreira v.
 Elizabeth Bd. of
 Educ., GRC
 Complaint No.
 2017-24 (2019);
 Deutsch v. NJ Civil
 Application of Service Commission,
 Patricia Zimmer with GRC Complaint No.
 respect to the Payroll Employment 2011-631 (2013);
 Specialist/Bookkeeper Application Toscano v. NJ
 position (13 pages) Department of Human
 Services, Div. of
 Health Services,
 GRC Complaint No.
 2010-147 (2011). 

 Further,
 applications
 constitute exempt
 “personnel records”
 within the meaning
 of N.J.S.A. §
 47:1A-10 that do
 not all within any
 of the statutory
 exceptions that may
 otherwise allow for
 public access under
 particular
 circumstances.
 Accordingly, the
 District is
 precluded from
 releasing the
 responsive
 application.
 N.J.S.A. § 47:1A-9b
 provides that OPRA
 “shall not abrogate
 or erode any
 executive or
 legislative
 privilege or grant
 of confidentiality
 heretofore
 established or
 recognized by . . .
 Executive Order of
 the Governor.”
 Executive Order 26
 (McGreevey 2002)
 exempts employment
 applications from
 public access.  See
 Moreira v.
 Elizabeth Bd. of
 Educ., GRC
 Complaint No.
 2017-24 (2019);
 Deutsch v. NJ Civil
 Application of Hugh Service Commission,
 Gavin Wynne with GRC Complaint No.
 respect to the Latin Employment 2011-631 (2013);
 Teacher – Leave Application Toscano v. NJ
 Replacement position Department of Human
 (22 pages) Services, Div. of
 Health Services,
 GRC Complaint No.
 2010-147 (2011). 

 Further,
 applications
 constitute exempt
 “personnel records”
 within the meaning
 of N.J.S.A. §
 47:1A-10 that do
 not all within any
 of the statutory
 exceptions that may
 otherwise allow for
 public access under
 particular
 circumstances.
 Accordingly, the
 District is
 precluded from
 releasing the
 responsive
 application.

 Your Requests are now deemed answered and closed.

 Sincerely,

 Julie Kot

 Business Administrator/Board Secretary 

 Enclosures

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this UNIQUE email address for all replies to this request and
no other:
[4][OPRA #57469 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[5]https://opramachine.com/help/officers

View this OPRA request & responses online:
[6]https://opramachine.com/request/count_of...

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.

If you find this service useful as an OPRA custodian, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's website.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
--

Julie Yohana

Assistant to the Business Administrator and Manager of IT

Ridgewood Public Schools
     
201-670-2700 x10543

[7]ridgewood.k12.nj.us

[8][IMG][9][IMG][10][IMG][11][IMG] [12][IMG]

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Confidentiality notice: The information contained in this message (email
and any attachments) is intended only for the designated recipient(s). Any
review, dissemination, distribution, copying or other use of this message
is prohibited by anyone other than the designated recipient. If you have
received this message in error, notify the sender immediately and delete
the original message from your e-mail system and/or computer database.

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Public record notice: You are advised that e-mail correspondence and
attachments between the public and the Ridgewood Board of Education are
obtainable by any person who files a request under the NJ Open Public
Records Act (OPRA) unless it is subject to a specific OPRA exception. You
should have no expectation that the content of e-mails sent to or from
school district e-mail addresses, or between the public and school
district officials and employees, will remain private.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.pashmanstein.com/publication...
4. mailto:[email address]
5. https://opramachine.com/help/officers
6. https://opramachine.com/request/count_of...
7. http://www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us/
8. https://twitter.com/RwdPubSchools
9. https://www.facebook.com/RidgewoodPublic...
10. https://www.instagram.com/ridgewoodpubli...
11. https://www.threads.net/@ridgewoodpublic...
12. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL...

hide quoted sections