OPRA Request – Garfield School Closure Communications
Dear Collingswood Board of Education,
Please accept this electronic request for public records made pursuant to the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) and the common law right of access. As permitted under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(f), this email constitutes a valid request.
I certify that:
I have not been convicted of any indictable offense under the laws of New Jersey, any other state, or the United States.
I will not use the requested records for a commercial purpose.
I am not seeking records in connection with a legal proceeding.
Records requested:
All emails, including attachments, sent or received by the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, and other central administrative leadership of Collingswood Public Schools (including but not limited to business administrator and members of the superintendent’s cabinet), that reference or relate to the proposed or announced closure of Garfield Public School.
This includes communications containing the terms “Garfield,” “Garfield School,” “school closure,” or similar language.
Date range: 1/1/2026 to 3/27/26
My preferred method of delivery is via reply to this email with responsive records provided as attachments.
Please confirm receipt of this request. If you are not the custodian of records, please forward this request to the appropriate person and provide their contact information.
Thank you for your assistance.
Yours faithfully,
Collingswood OPRA Requester
Received.
#bekind
Beth Ann Coleman, MPA, SFO, RSBA, QPA
Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations
Collingswood and Oaklyn Public Schools
100 Lees Avenue (former Good Shepherd School)
Collingswood, NJ 08108
p-856-962-5702 ext. 9001
f- 856-962-5723
Your request requires additional time beyond the seven (7) business days to
fulfill because request size and time required to read and redact.
OPRA allows custodians to seek extensions of time pursuant to N.J.S.A.
47:1A-5.i. Specifically, OPRA states that, “the requestor shall be advised
by the custodian when the record can be made available. If the record is not
made available by that time, access shall be deemed denied.”
Your request requires an extension of time until April 17th as the school
district is closed April 3rd to the 12th.
If your request for access to a government record has been denied or
unfilled within the seven (7) business days required by law, you have a
right to challenge the decision by the [insert name of Agency] to deny
access. At your option, you may either institute a proceeding in the
Superior Court of New Jersey or file a complaint with the Government Records
Council (GRC) by completing the Denial of Access Complaint Form. You may
contact the GRC by toll-free telephone at 866-850-0511, by mail at P.O. Box
819, Trenton, NJ, 08625, by e-mail at [email address], or at their web
site at www.state.nj.us/grc. The GRC can also answer other questions about
the law. All questions regarding complaints filed in Superior Court should
be directed to the Court Clerk in your County.
#bekind
Beth Ann Coleman, MPA, SFO, RSBA, QPA
Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations
Collingswood and Oaklyn Public Schools
100 Lees Avenue (former Good Shepherd School)
Collingswood, NJ 08108
p-856-962-5702 ext. 9001
f- 856-962-5723
See attached.
#bekind
Beth Ann Coleman, MPA, SFO, RSBA, QPA
Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations
Collingswood and Oaklyn Public Schools
100 Lees Avenue (former Good Shepherd School)
Collingswood, NJ 08108
p-856-962-5702 ext. 9001
f- 856-962-5723