Good morning,
I have forwarded your request to our attorney for review.  I believe some
of the information you are requesting is protected and not subject to
OPRA.  As soon as I have a response from our attorney, I will respond with
the information I can provide.
Thank you.

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Good afternoon, the records being provided are as follows:

Job Posting

Mrs. Pedroza's application with references and essays redacted per
response below. 

Diane Pedroza Contract

Letter of Approval from the County Office - Although this was recommended
to be denied based on who this was requested, the letter is provided.

Board meeting advertisements and Board meeting advertisements to start the
March 20 meeting earlier to accommodate board training.  The regular
meeting started at the normal time.

March 20 agenda

The rest of the information requested is being rejected for the following
reasons.  However, I will provide you the following:

17 candidates applied and 3 candidates were interviewed.

Records requested:

Please provide the following items regarding the application and selection
process for the district’s search for their Superintendent of Schools
between the dates of November 8, 2023 to March 20, 2024:

1.  Record of advertisements for the superintendent vacancy.

• Provided

2.  Documents showing the dates and times of candidates interviewed for
the superintendent vacancy.

•  This request is unlawfully overbroad and otherwise requires the
custodian to perform research cross referencing candidates for
responsive records. Therefore it is not valid.

3.  List of candidates that applied for the superintendent vacancy (This
report is available in the Frontline Applitrack system.)

• We are not required to prepare a list, and furthermore, the identities
of unsuccessful candidates are private and otherwise  not subject to
production pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 and 47:1A-10; See also
Executive Order 26 (McGreevey).

4. Document that shows the list of candidates that were interviewed for
the superintendent vacancy.

• This request is overbroad, it does not identify a specific record to
be produced and rather requires a custodian guess at a record which
may or may not be responsive to the request. Furthermore, for the same
reasons above, such a request is invalid other than to the extent it
applies to the current superintendent.

5. A report showing which district employees had access to the
superintendent vacancy applications via Frontline Applicant Tracking.

• Overbroad and otherwise requires research. This task would require the
custodian to research and compile information responsive to this
request. Furthermore, it is similarly overbroad as it does not
identify what record is being requested, but rather requires a random
“report.”

6. A report showing which district employees who accessed the applicants’
materials during the dates above.

• This request is overbroad and is denied as it requires the custodian
to research which of the Board  employees access the applicants’
materials.

7. Records demonstrating the Board of Education’s due diligence to fill
Manchester Township School District’s superintendent vacancy. These
records include emails, text messages, and other forms of communication.

• Denied as overbroad. It does not identify a responsive record and
rather ambiguously requests records that may or may not include
emails, text messages and other forms of communications. It does not
identify the sender, the recipient, subject and or/date as otherwise
required for such requests.

8. Any records that include the interview questions used, as well as the
scoring grid/rubric for each candidate interviewed for the superintendent
vacancy

• Denied as ACD material,  pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1

9. Application and application materials for each candidate who applied
and also those who were interviewed for the superintendent vacancy

• Denied for the same reasons set forth above in number 3.

10. Mrs. Pedroza’s application materials for the superintendent vacancy
Resume, cover letter, certifications, and references full Application,
including transcripts, and essay question responses. 

• This is a valid  request to the extent such information exists, but
redact references, phone numbers, email address, home addresses, and
any other personal identifying information. Essays and transcript is
not subject to production pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-10 as personnel
records. - Provided with exceptions.

11.  Diane Pedroza’s contract as the Superintendent of Schools

• This is a valid request. - Provided

12.  Records indicating the date of Submission to the County
Superintendent’s Office

• Denied as overbroad. As it fails to identify what record or records it
is requesting.

13. Records indicating the date of Approval by the County Superintendent’s
Office

•  Denied as overbroad. As it fails to identify what record or records
it is requesting.

14. March 20th Board of Education Meeting:

Date and time the agenda was available for the public including the
resolution for Mrs. Pedroza’s appointment

•  With  respect to date and time that the agenda was available for the
public including the resolution for Mrs. Predroza’s appointment, such
a request is improper as it demands the custodian research and prepare
a response responsive to this request. Notwithstanding this fact,
please see the attached agenda and resolution for the March
20^th board of education meeting.

- Initial advertisement for the meeting

• This is valid.- Provided

- Advertisement including that a superintendent would be appointed

NJAC 6A:23:-3.1(c) requires a public notice and public hearing only for
renegotiations, extensions, amendments or other alterations of existing
contracts.  Those conditions did not occur here and therefore did not
require a special notice.  Title 18A:11-11 states the same that when the
board renegotiates, extends, amends or otherwise alters the terms of a an
existing contract with the Superintendent of Schools, Assistant
Superintendent of Schools, School Business Administrator or Deputy
Superintendent a public notice is required.  A public notice is not
required for new contracts.   

-Board meeting minutes; including executive meeting minutes

• If the minutes were adopted then it is valid. With respect to
executive meeting minutes, that depends on what was said during
executive and subsequently memorialized, and whether an exemption
still applies. I.E. personnel matters would remain exempt under
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-10; hiring would remain exempt under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1
as ACD and Personnel. If it involves litigation, such discussions are
exempt under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1 as both ACD and attorney client
communications. - These minutes are not available until the board
approves them on April 30.

Respectfully,

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