Dear Salem Board of Education,

Please accept this electronic request for public records made under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form or use a particular software platform to submit my request per NJSA 47:1A-6(f), which states that an email from a requestor including all of the information required on the adopted form shall suffice in place of a completed form as a valid government record request.

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 government records for a commercial purpose.

I AM NOT seeking records in connection with a legal proceeding.

Records requested:

Dear Custodian of Records,

Pursuant to the Open Public Records Act (OPRA), N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq., I am requesting access to the following records for the period of July 1, 2023, through the present:

All legal invoices paid by the Salem Board of Education to any law firm or legal service provider, including those paid directly by the district or through any liability or Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance carrier.

Please include all invoices related to special education matters, regardless of the funding source.

Redactions may be made to protect privileged content, but a privilege log must be provided identifying the nature and basis of any redaction or withheld record.

All disbursement records or invoices paid to insurance companies (including for legal defense, settlements, or reimbursements) relating to special education disputes, mediation, due process hearings, OCR complaints, or settlement agreements.

All special education settlement agreements entered into by the district during this time period, including those resulting from mediation, due process, or other dispute resolution processes.

Personally identifiable student information may be redacted, but the general terms of settlement (e.g., type of resolution, attorney’s fees, compensatory services, placement terms, IEE reimbursements, etc.) should be disclosed.

A list of all special education due process filings, mediations, or formal complaints filed by or against the district, including the general nature of each dispute and its resolution status.

Any records showing how legal expenditures related to special education matters are tracked, categorized, and approved, including internal communications, policies, or board meeting minutes or resolutions referencing these expenditures.

If any records are withheld based on a claim of privilege or confidentiality, please provide a detailed privilege log identifying the document withheld, the nature of the privilege claimed, and sufficient information to evaluate the validity of the claim without disclosing the privileged content itself.

My preferred delivery method for response(s) to this request is by E-mail as attachments. Please confirm you have received this request. If you are not the custodian of records, please forward my request to that person and provide their email address to me for future reference.

Yours faithfully,

Jennifer James