Dear Sir/Madam,   

As you are aware, this office serves as the Solicitor for the Collingswood
Board of Education. On behalf of Beth Ann Coleman the Custodian of
Records, I am responding to your November 13, 2025, OPRA request for the
following information:

 1. The formal curriculum, instructional content, learning standards, and
course descriptions for both Math 6 and Math Applications.

Answer: See attached records. Please be advised that the requested records
can also be access on the District’s website by using the following link -
[1]https://www.collsk12.org/page/curriculum..., selecting the “Our
Curriculum” dropdown menu, and selecting the “OnCourse Curriculum” tab.

 2. Confirmation of the district’s requirement that all sixth-grade
students, including students with IEPs, must take these courses, and
whether any equivalent or alternative options exist in grades 7 or 8.

Answer: This is a request for information, and not a request for a
specific identifiable government record. Therefore, this is an invalid
request under OPRA.

OPRA provides that government records made, maintained, kept on file, or
received by a public agency in the course of its official business are
subject to public access unless otherwise exempt. N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1. OPRA
allows access to records, not information, see Benigno v. N.J. Off. Of the
State Comptroller, No. A-1467-22, 2024 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 637, at 11
(App. Div. 2024), and “is not intended as a research tool litigants may
use to force government officials to identify and siphon useful
information. Rather, OPRA simply operates to make identifiable government
records ‘readily accessible for inspection, copying, or examination.’
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1." MAG Entertainment, LLC v. Division of Alcoholic
Beverage Control, 375 N.J. Super. 534, 546 (App. Div. 2005). A request
must identify with reasonable clarity the documents sought. See Bent v.
Township of Stafford Police Dept., 381 N.J. Super. 30, 37 (App. Div.
2005). A request that fails to identify a specific government record is
invalid. Id.; see also Schuler v. Borough of Bloomsbury, GRC Complaint No.
2007-151 (February 2009).

 3. Clarification of the recent change in course naming/structure within
the student scheduling system (from two distinct courses to what
currently appears as a single merged course), and whether this
reflects an approved curriculum revision or a scheduling adjustment
requiring Board action.

Answer: See response to request #2. This is a request for information, and
not a request for a specific identifiable government record. As this
request seeks “clarification” on changes of course names/structure and
information on the approval process it is an invalid request under OPRA.

 4. Copies of the August 25, 2025 Board of Education meeting minutes—along
with any agendas, resolutions, or presentations—related to the
approval or adoption of the Grade 6 math curriculum and course
structure.

Answer: See attached records. Please be advised that the August 25, 2025,
Board of Education meeting agenda, and meeting minutes are also available
on the District’s website -
[2]https://go.boarddocs.com/nj/colps/Board.....

Crosley L. Gagnon | Associate | School Law

CAPEHART || SCATCHARD
A T T O R N E Y S  A T  L A W
New Jersey - Pennsylvania - New York

8000 Midlantic Dr, Ste 300S
Post Office Box 5016
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054

[3][email address]
856-234-6800 Phone

856-607-5185 Direct

856-235-2786 Fax

[4]Web | [5]Bio 
Confidentiality Note: This transmission is intended only for the
addressee, and may contain privileged and/or confidential information from
the law firm of Capehart & Scatchard, P.A. If you are not the intended
recipient, please do not use, disseminate, or copy this material. If you
have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by
telephone, return this transmission, and delete or destroy any copies.

References

Visible links
1. https://www.collsk12.org/page/curriculum...
2. https://go.boarddocs.com/nj/colps/Board....
3. mailto:[email address]
4. http://www.capehart.com/
5. file:///tmp/

Good afternoon,

The District is continuing to work on the request for Math Applications
records. As for the other requests in your November 24, 2025, email, the
District construes these requests as new requests. Therefore, please be
advised the District will respond in accordance with the time period
provided in N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.

Thank you

Crosley L. Gagnon | Associate | School Law

CAPEHART || SCATCHARD
A T T O R N E Y S  A T  L A W
New Jersey - Pennsylvania - New York

8000 Midlantic Dr, Ste 300S
Post Office Box 5016
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054

[1][email address]
856-234-6800 Phone

856-607-5185 Direct

856-235-2786 Fax

[2]Web | [3]Bio 
Confidentiality Note: This transmission is intended only for the
addressee, and may contain privileged and/or confidential information from
the law firm of Capehart & Scatchard, P.A. If you are not the intended
recipient, please do not use, disseminate, or copy this material. If you
have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by
telephone, return this transmission, and delete or destroy any copies.

show quoted sections

Good afternoon,

Please be advised that the District requires additional time to respond to
your November 13, 2025 OPRA request for "formal curriculum, instructional
content, learning standards, and course descriptions for both Math 6 and
Math Applications." Accordingly, the District will provide a response by
Friday, December 5, 2025.

Thank you,
Crosley

Crosley L. Gagnon | Associate | School Law

CAPEHART || SCATCHARD
A T T O R N E Y S  A T  L A W
New Jersey - Pennsylvania - New York

8000 Midlantic Dr, Ste 300S
Post Office Box 5016
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054

[1][email address]
856-234-6800 Phone

856-607-5185 Direct

856-235-2786 Fax

[2]Web | [3]Bio 
Confidentiality Note: This transmission is intended only for the
addressee, and may contain privileged and/or confidential information from
the law firm of Capehart & Scatchard, P.A. If you are not the intended
recipient, please do not use, disseminate, or copy this material. If you
have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by
telephone, return this transmission, and delete or destroy any copies.

show quoted sections

Good afternoon,

As you are aware, this office serves as the Solicitor for the Collingswood
Board of Education. The District’s Custodian of Records is in receipt of
your OPRA requests. On behalf of Beth Ann Coleman the Custodian of
Records, I am responding to your November 13, 2025 request, two (2)
November 24, 2025 requests, and December 2, 2025 requests for the
following records:

 A. November 13, 2025 request for:

The formal curriculum, instructional content, learning standards, and
course descriptions for Math Applications.

Answer: Math 6 and Math Application are connected classes, aligned to the
same standards and curriculum. Therefore, see Math 6 Curriculum which was
previously provided and is also attached hereto. Additionally, the request
for “instructional content” is vague and overly broad, and therefore
invalid.

Agencies are only obligated to disclose identifiable government records
under OPRA. Burke v. Brandes, 429 N.J. Super. 169, 174 (App. Div. 2012). A
proper request must identify with reasonable clarity those documents that
are desired. Id. (quoting Bent v. Twp. of Stafford Police Dep’t, 318, N.J.
Super. 30, 37 (App. Div. 2005). A request that fails to identify a
specific government record is invalid. See MAG Entertainment, Bent v.
Stafford Police Department, 381 N.J. Super. 30 (App. Div. 2005) and
Schuler v. Borough of Bloomsbury, GRC Complaint No. 2007-151 (February
2009).

 B. November 24, 2025 request for:

1.      Records that indicate whether special education students are
required—by district policy, placement guidelines, or course sequencing—to
be enrolled in both Math Applications and Math 6.

Answer: The above request is a request for information, overly broad, and
fails to identify with reasonable clarity the documents sought. Therefore,
this is an invalid request under OPRA. OPRA provides that government
records made, maintained, kept on file, or received by a public agency in
the course of its official business are subject to public access unless
otherwise exempt. N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1. OPRA allows access to records, not
information. see Benigno v. N.J. Off. Of the State Comptroller, No.
A-1467-22, 2024 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 637, at 11 (App. Div. 2024). A
proper request must identify with reasonable clarity the documents sought.
See Bent v. Stafford Police Department, 381 N.J. Super. 30, 37 (App. Div.
2005). A request that fails to identify a specific government record is
invalid. See MAG Entm't, LLC v. Div. of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 375
N.J. Super. 534, 546 (App. Div. 2005); Bent v. Stafford Police Department,
381 N.J. Super. 30 (App. Div. 2005); Schuler v. Borough of Bloomsbury, GRC
Complaint No. 2007-151 (February 2009). OPRA does not permit “[w]holesale
requests for general information to be analyzed, collated and compiled” by
government entities, and “is not intended as a research tool litigants may
use to force government officials to identify and siphon useful
information. Rather, OPRA simply operates to make identifiable government
records ‘readily accessible for inspection, copying, or examination.’
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1." MAG Entm't, LLC at 546-9. The records custodian is not
required to conduct research of its records and correlate data from
various government records in its possession in response to an OPRA
request. Id. at 547. The records custodian is not required to conduct
research of its records and correlate data from various government records
in its possession in response to an OPRA request. MAG Entm't, LLC at 547.

This would include, but is not limited to:

a.       The formal written policy or guideline outlining the course
requirements for special education students.

Answer: This request is overly broad and fails to identify with reasonable
clarity the documents sought. See response to request B1. Therefore, this
is an invalid request under OPRA.

b.      Any curriculum documents, program descriptions, or placement
criteria that specify when or why a student is assigned to Math
Applications and/or Math 6.

Answer: This request is overly broad and fails to identify with reasonable
clarity the documents sought. See response to request B1. Therefore, this
is an invalid request under OPRA. Without waiving any rights to declare
the OPRA request invalid as presented, no responsive documents exist.

2.      Specific, identifiable records related to the recent change in
course naming and structure within the student scheduling system.
Specifically, I am seeking documentation that explains:

a.       Why two distinct courses were merged or renamed,

Answer: The above request is a request for information and fails to
identify with reasonable clarity the documents sought. See response to
request B1. Further, the request is vague and overly broad as it fails to
specify what constitutes “documentation.” Therefore, this is an invalid
request under OPRA.

b.      Whether this change reflects an approved curriculum revision, and;
 

Answer: The above request is a request for information and fails to
identify with reasonable clarity the documents sought. See response to
request B1. Further, the request is vague and overly broad as it fails to
specify what constitutes “documentation.” Therefore, this is an invalid
request under OPRA.

c.       Whether this adjustment required Board approval or action.

Answer: The above request is a request for information and fails to
identify with reasonable clarity the documents sought. See response to
request B1. Further, the request is vague and overly broad as it fails to
specify what constitutes “documentation.” Therefore, this is an invalid
request under OPRA.

d.      Any records that document or authorize this change—such as
curriculum revision forms, internal memos, Board agendas or minutes,
scheduling directives, or administrative approvals.

Answer: The request is overly broad, vague, provides no period for the
request, and fails to identify with reasonable clarity the documents
sought. See response to request B1. Therefore, this is an invalid request
under OPRA.

 C. November 24, 2025 request for:

Pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (OPRA), please provide
the following information:

1. The number of students from the sending districts of Woodlynne and
Oaklyn who did not attend Collingswood High School for grades 9–12 for the
following school years 2024–2025 & 2025–2026. Please include separate
totals for: Woodlynne students & Oaklyn students.

Answer: This is a request for information, and not a request for a
specific identifiable government record. Therefore, this is an invalid
request under OPRA.

OPRA provides that government records made, maintained, kept on file, or
received by a public agency in the course of its official business are
subject to public access unless otherwise exempt. N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1. OPRA
allows access to records, not information. see Benigno v. N.J. Off. Of the
State Comptroller, No. A-1467-22, 2024 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 637, at 11
(App. Div. 2024). A proper request must identify with reasonable clarity
the documents sought. See Bent v. Stafford Police Department, 381 N.J.
Super. 30, 37 (App. Div. 2005). A request that fails to identify a
specific government record is invalid. See MAG Entm't, LLC v. Div. of
Alcoholic Beverage Control, 375 N.J. Super. 534, 546 (App. Div. 2005);
Bent v. Stafford Police Department, 381 N.J. Super. 30 (App. Div. 2005);
Schuler v. Borough of Bloomsbury, GRC Complaint No. 2007-151 (February
2009). OPRA does not permit “[w]holesale requests for general information
to be analyzed, collated and compiled” by government entities, and “is not
intended as a research tool litigants may use to force government
officials to identify and siphon useful information. Rather, OPRA simply
operates to make identifiable government records ‘readily accessible for
inspection, copying, or examination.’ N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1." MAG Entm't, LLC
at 546-9. The records custodian is not required to conduct research of its
records and correlate data from various government records in its
possession in response to an OPRA request. Id. at 547.  

2. Also please indicate the alternative placements (e.g., technical
schools, charter schools, private schools, homeschooling), though I
understand this may require redaction depending on identifiable student
information.

Answer: This is a request for information, and not a request for a
specific identifiable government record. See response to request C1.
Therefore, this is an invalid request under OPRA.

3. How many students specifically from Collingswood, Oaklyn and Woodlynne
utilized "School Choice" in those years to not attend  

Answer: This is a request for information, and not a request for a
specific identifiable government record. See response to request C1.
Therefore, this is an invalid request under OPRA.

 D. December 2, 2025 request for:

1.      Total number of students enrolled in the High School Plus Program
(Camden County Community College)

Answer: This is a request for information, and not a request for a
specific identifiable government record. Additionally, this request is
overly broad and vague. Therefore, this is an invalid request under OPRA.

OPRA provides that government records made, maintained, kept on file, or
received by a public agency in the course of its official business are
subject to public access unless otherwise exempt. N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1. OPRA
allows access to records, not information. see Benigno v. N.J. Off. Of the
State Comptroller, No. A-1467-22, 2024 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 637, at 11
(App. Div. 2024). A proper request must identify with reasonable clarity
the documents sought. See Bent v. Stafford Police Department, 381 N.J.
Super. 30, 37 (App. Div. 2005). A request that fails to identify a
specific government record is invalid. See MAG Entm't, LLC v. Div. of
Alcoholic Beverage Control, 375 N.J. Super. 534, 546 (App. Div. 2005);
Bent v. Stafford Police Department, 381 N.J. Super. 30 (App. Div. 2005);
Schuler v. Borough of Bloomsbury, GRC Complaint No. 2007-151 (February
2009). OPRA does not permit “[w]holesale requests for general information
to be analyzed, collated and compiled” by government entities, and “is not
intended as a research tool litigants may use to force government
officials to identify and siphon useful information. Rather, OPRA simply
operates to make identifiable government records ‘readily accessible for
inspection, copying, or examination.’ N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1." MAG Entm't, LLC
at 546-9. The records custodian is not required to conduct research of its
records and correlate data from various government records in its
possession in response to an OPRA request. MAG Entm't, LLC at 547.

2.      Total number of students who have passed/completed the course(s)
offered through the program.

Answer: This is a request for information, and not a request for a
specific identifiable government record. Additionally, this request is
overly broad and vague. See response to request D1. Therefore, this is an
invalid request under OPRA.

3.      Breakdown of student enrollment by educational classification,
specifically:

a.       Number of General Education students

b.      Number of Special Education students

Answer: This is a request for information, and not a request for a
specific identifiable government record. Additionally, this request is
overly broad and vague. See response to request D1. Therefore, this is an
invalid request under OPRA.

4.      Student demographic information for program participants,
including (as available):

a.       Race/ethnicity

b.      Gender

c.       Grade level

d.      Any additional demographic categories the district tracks for this
program

Answer: This is a request for information, and not a request for a
specific identifiable government record. Additionally, this request is
overly broad and vague. See response to request D1. Therefore, this is an
invalid request under OPRA.

Please be advised that the District requires additional time to respond to
your November 24, 2025 OPRA request (below), and will response by
Wednesday, December 10, 2025.

I am requesting all records related to the $1.9 million SAMHSA grant
awarded to the Collingswood School District by the U.S. Department of
Health & Human Services. This request specifically includes, but is not
limited to:
1. A full breakdown of how the grant funds were allocated and spent,
including salaries/benefits, programs/services, materials/equipment,
contracted services, and professional development.
2. Any internal or external reports, audits, or evaluations on the use of
these funds.
3. Board meeting minutes, presentations, or documents discussing the
planning, allocation, or use of the grant.
4. All internal memos, emails, or correspondence detailing instructions,
guidance, or decisions regarding how to use or allocate the grant funds
regarding any employees, contracted employees, prospected vendors, board
member communication.

Thank you,

Crosley L. Gagnon

Crosley L. Gagnon | Associate | School Law

CAPEHART || SCATCHARD
A T T O R N E Y S  A T  L A W
New Jersey - Pennsylvania - New York

8000 Midlantic Dr, Ste 300S
Post Office Box 5016
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054

[1][email address]
856-234-6800 Phone

856-607-5185 Direct

856-235-2786 Fax

[2]Web | [3]Bio 
Confidentiality Note: This transmission is intended only for the
addressee, and may contain privileged and/or confidential information from
the law firm of Capehart & Scatchard, P.A. If you are not the intended
recipient, please do not use, disseminate, or copy this material. If you
have received this transmission in error, please notify us immediately by
telephone, return this transmission, and delete or destroy any copies.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.capehart.com/
3. file:///tmp/

I'm using Mimecast to share large files with you. Please see the attached
instructions.

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

Good afternoon,

This office serves as the Solicitor for the Collingswood Board of
Education. As you are aware from my December 5, 2025 email, the District
required additional time to review responsive documents to your November
24, 2025 request. On behalf of Beth Ann Coleman the Custodian of Records,
I am responding to your November 24, 2025 for the following records:

1. I am requesting all records related to the $1.9 million SAMHSA grant
awarded to the Collingswood School District by the U.S. Department of
Health & Human Services.

Answer: This request is invalid as it seeks “all records related to the
$1.9 million SAMHSA grant awarded to the Collingswood School District by
the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services” which is overly broad and
fails to identify with reasonable clarity the documents sought. OPRA
provides that government records made, maintained, kept on file, or
received by a public agency in the course of its official business are
subject to public access unless otherwise exempt. N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1. OPRA
allows access to records, not information. see Benigno v. N.J. Off. Of the
State Comptroller, No. A-1467-22, 2024 N.J. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 637, at 11
(App. Div. 2024). A proper request must identify with reasonable clarity
the documents sought. See Bent v. Stafford Police Department, 381 N.J.
Super. 30, 37 (App. Div. 2005). If a request fails to identify a specific
government record that request is invalid. See MAG Entm't, LLC v. Div. of
Alcoholic Beverage Control, 375 N.J. Super. 534, 546 (App. Div. 2005);
Bent v. Stafford Police Department, 381 N.J. Super. 30 (App. Div. 2005);
Schuler v. Borough of Bloomsbury, GRC Complaint No. 2007-151 (February
2009). OPRA does not permit “[w]holesale requests for general information
to be analyzed, collated and compiled” by government entities, and “is not
intended as a research tool litigants may use to force government
officials to identify and siphon useful information. Rather, OPRA simply
operates to make identifiable government records ‘readily accessible for
inspection, copying, or examination.’ N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1." MAG Entm't, LLC
at 546-9. The records custodian is not required to conduct research of its
records and correlate data from various government records in its
possession in response to an OPRA request. MAG Entm't, LLC at 547.  

2. A full breakdown of how the grant funds were allocated and spent,
including salaries/benefits, programs/services, materials/equipment,
contracted services, and professional development.

Answer: This is a request for information, and not a request for a
specific identifiable government record. See response to request 1.
Additionally, the above request is overly broad as it fails to identify
with reasonable clarity the documents sought. Therefore, this is an
invalid request under OPRA. Without waiving any rights to declare the OPRA
request invalid as presented, see the attached documents – SAMHSA grant
purchase orders, check register and yearly grant submissions.

3. Any internal or external reports, audits, or evaluations on the use of
these funds.

Answer: The above request is overly broad and vague as it seeks “any”
reports, audits, or evaluations regarding the use of the funds. This
request fails to identify with reasonable clarity the documents sought.
See response to request 1. Therefore, this is an invalid request under
OPRA. Without waiving any rights to declare the OPRA request invalid as
presented, see the attached documents.

4. Board meeting minutes, presentations, or documents discussing the
planning, allocation, or use of the grant.

Answer: The above request is overly broad and invalid as it fails to
identify with reasonable clarity the documents sought. Additionally, see
response to request 1.  Therefore, this is an invalid request under OPRA.
Without waiving any rights to declare the OPRA request invalid as
presented, see the attached documents.

5. All internal memos, emails, or correspondence detailing instructions,
guidance, or decisions regarding how to use or allocate the grant funds
regarding any employees, contracted employees, prospected vendors, board
member communication.

Answer: The above request is overly broad and invalid as it seeks “all
internal memos, emails, or correspondence,” and fails to identify a time
period for the records sought. Additionally, see response to request 1.
With respect to your request for emails, the Government Records Council
established specific criteria deemed necessary under OPRA to request such
records in Elcavage v. West Milford Twp. (Passaic), GRC Complaint No.
2009-07 (April 2010). The Council determined that to be valid, such
requests must contain (1) the content and/or subject of the email, (2) the
specific date or range of dates during which the email(s) were
transmitted, and (3) the identity of the sender and/or the recipient
thereof. Id.; See also Sandoval v. N.J. State Parole Bd., GRC Complaint
No. 2006-167 (Interim Order dated March 28, 2007). Without waiving any
rights to declare the OPRA request invalid as presented, see the attached
documents.

Please be advised that due to the large nature of the attached documents
they are being transmitted via Mimecast. The documents sent through the
secure Mimecast link can be downloaded.

Thank you,

Crosley