Various requests for public records from your school district
Dear Camden Board of Education,
In accordance with the New Jersey open public records Act, we hereby request for response to the following request hold
1) Please provide documents indicating the total number of students enrolled in all public schools and charter schools in your District for the 2022-2023 school year;
2) Please provide documents indicating the total number of students whose parents have availed themselves of the opt-out provisions of N.J.S.A.18A:35-4.7 and opted their child out of all or a portion of the 2020 NJSLS-CHPE mandate or curriculum promulgated in accordance thereto for the 2022-2023 school year. Please provide documents indicating the number of opt-outs by individual grade levels.
3) Please provide a copy of the document(s) used by the district by which parents can opt-out or opt-in their children from all or a portion of the curriculum mandated by the 2020 NJSLS-CHPE in your district.
4) Please provide documents showing how you implemented the “parent opt-out” for the 2020 NJSLS-CHPE and Health & Physical Education curriculum and a copy of the document by which parents can opt-out their children from all or a portion of the curriculum mandated by the 2020 NJSLS-CHPE in your district. Including but not limited to forms, flyers, emails to parents and/or a website.
4) Please provide documents showing how the 2020 NJSLS-CHPE mandate was implemented in your district, for example: a) in the classroom; b) at home by parents; c) as a homework assignment; d) in an assembly; e) as a webinar; f) being taught on the last day of school; g) any methods but with elements removed; h) not at all.
6) Copies of the BOE policies and regulations regarding the composition of your “Book Review Committee,” as well as policies controlling book reviews or book removal requests.
7) Copies of any book removal or review requests made by residents of your school district since November 1, 2022 to present.
8) If any books have been removed from curriculum or from public school libraries as a result of a demand for removal or by the Board action in accordance with your book removal policy, copies of all documents relating to the review or removal.
9) Any documents, policies or regulations relating to the review of current textbooks or the review of new textbooks or textbooks being considered for purchase.
10) Copies of all legal bills from the Board Attorney or from any outside council from January 1, 2023 to present
Yours faithfully,
Michael Gottesman, Individually and as Founder of the
New Jersey Public Education Coalition
Dear Mr. Gottesman:
The Camden City School District (“District”) is in receipt of a request
for records pursuant to the Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”), N.J.S.A.
47:1A-1, et seq, via email on August 5, 2023. Specifically, you requested
the following:
1. Please provide documents indicating the total number of students
enrolled in all public schools and charter schools in your District
for the 2022-2023 school year;
Enrollment data for both the Camden City School District, along with
renaissance and charter schools located within the City, can be found
directly on the Department of Education’s website at the following link:
[1]https://www.nj.gov/education/doedata/enr... This data is
listed by District, as well as by individual school.
2. Please provide documents indicating the total number of students whose
parents have availed themselves of the opt-out provisions of
N.J.S.A.18A:35-4.7 and opted their child out of all or a portion of
the 2020 NJSLS-CHPE mandate or curriculum promulgated in accordance
thereto for the 2022-2023 school year. Please provide documents
indicating the number of opt-outs by individual grade levels.
Please note that the District is still reviewing this request and is
requesting a 2-week extension until August 30, 2023, to provide you with
any responsive documents.
3. Please provide a copy of the document(s) used by the district by which
parents can opt-out or opt-in their children from all or a portion of
the curriculum mandated by the 2020 NJSLS-CHPE in your district.
Please see the attached Health/Family Life Topics Opt Out Letter and
Form. This is also available on our website at the following link:
[2]https://camdencityschools.org/families/
4. Please provide documents showing how you implemented the “parent
opt-out” for the 2020 NJSLS-CHPE and Health & Physical Education
curriculum and a copy of the document by which parents can opt-out
their children from all or a portion of the curriculum mandated by the
2020 NJSLS-CHPE in your district. Including but not limited to forms,
flyers, emails to parents and/or a website.
Please see the attached Health/Family Life Topics Opt Out Letter and
Form. This is also available on our website at the following link:
[3]https://camdencityschools.org/families/
5. Please provide documents showing how the 2020 NJSLS-CHPE mandate was
implemented in your district, for example: a) in the classroom; b) at
home by parents; c) as a homework assignment; d) in an assembly; e) as
a webinar; f) being taught on the last day of school; g) any methods
but with elements removed; h) not at all.
Please note that the District is still reviewing this request and is
requesting a 2-week extension until August 30, 2023, to provide you with
any responsive documents.
6. Copies of the BOE policies and regulations regarding the composition
of your “Book Review Committee,” as well as policies controlling book
reviews or book removal requests.
All Board of Education policies are publicly available on the District’s
website accessible at the following link:
[4]https://camdencityschools.org/about/advi... These
policies include 6161.1 Evaluation and Selection of Instructional
Materials, and 6161.2, Complaints Regarding Instructional Materials.
7. Copies of any book removal or review requests made by residents of
your school district since November 1, 2022 to present.
Please note that the District is still reviewing this request and is
requesting a 2-week extension until August 30, 2023, to provide you with
any responsive documents.
8. If any books have been removed from curriculum or from public school
libraries as a result of a demand for removal or by the Board action
in accordance with your book removal policy, copies of all documents
relating to the review or removal.
Please note that the District is still reviewing this request and is
requesting a 2-week extension until August 30, 2023, to provide you with
any responsive documents.
9. Any documents, policies or regulations relating to the review of
current textbooks or the review of new textbooks or textbooks being
considered for purchase.
All Board of Education policies are publicly available on the District’s
website accessible at the following link:
https://camdencityschools.org/about/advi... These
policies include 6161.1 Evaluation and Selection of Instructional
Materials.
10. Copies of all legal bills from the Board Attorney or from any outside
council from January 1, 2023 to present
The District is requesting additional information in order to respond to
this request. The District employs an in-house General Counsel, in
addition to contracts with outside counsel for general education, labor
and employment matters, and special conflicts counsel. Please identify
those legal bills you are seeking.
If you have any questions regarding this response, you may contact me at
the email address or phone number below. Should you disagree with this
response, you have the right to appeal. OPRA permits a person who believes
he or she has been illegally denied access to a public record to file a
complaint with the GRC, or file suit in Superior Court to challenge the
decision and compel disclosure. For more information, you may contact GRC
by phone at 1-866-850-0511, by e-mail at [email address], or visit the
GRC web site.
Very truly yours,
Samantha L. Price, Esq.| General Counsel
Camden City School District|1033 Cambridge Street| Camden, NJ 08105
(c) 856-220-0978
(o) 856-966-2000 x64330
[5][email address]
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information in this e-mail and any attachments
thereto is intended for the named recipient(s) only even if addressed
incorrectly. This e-mail, including any attachments, may contain
information that is privileged and confidential and subject to legal
restrictions and penalties regarding its unauthorized disclosure or other
use. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that
any disclosure, copying, distribution, or the taking of any action or
inaction in reliance on the contents of this e-mail and any of its
attachments is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you have received this e-mail in
error, please immediately notify the sender via return e-mail; delete this
e-mail and all attachments from your e-mail system and your computer
system and network; and destroy any paper copies you may have in your
possession. Thank you for your cooperation.
Please consider the environment before printing this message.
References
Visible links
1. https://www.nj.gov/education/doedata/enr...
2. https://camdencityschools.org/families/
3. https://camdencityschools.org/families/
4. https://camdencityschools.org/about/advi...
5. mailto:[email address]
Dr. Mr. Gottesman:
It appears that my prior email closing out this OPRA request was
undeliverable.
Please allow me to confirm that the District has received no book removal
requests and, accordingly, there are no documents responsive to your
remaining requests.
If you have any questions regarding this response, you may contact me at
the email address or phone number below. Should you disagree with this
response, you have the right to appeal. OPRA permits a person who believes
he or she has been illegally denied access to a public record to file a
complaint with the GRC, or file suit in Superior Court to challenge the
decision and compel disclosure. For more information, you may contact GRC
by phone at 1-866-850-0511, by e-mail at [1][email address], or visit
the GRC web site.
Sincerely,
Samantha L. Price, Esq.| General Counsel/Acting Chief of Staff
Camden City School District|1033 Cambridge Street| Camden, NJ 08105
(c) 856-220-0978
(o) 856-966-2000 x64330
[2][email address]
From: Samantha Price <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 16, 2023 4:56 PM
To: NJPEC <[OPRA #49508 email]>
Cc: opra custodian <[Camden Board of Education request email]>
Subject: OPRA Request No. 202367
Dear Mr. Gottesman:
The Camden City School District (“District”) is in receipt of a request
for records pursuant to the Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”), N.J.S.A.
47:1A-1, et seq, via email on August 5, 2023. Specifically, you requested
the following:
1. Please provide documents indicating the total number of students
enrolled in all public schools and charter schools in your District
for the 2022-2023 school year;
Enrollment data for both the Camden City School District, along with
renaissance and charter schools located within the City, can be found
directly on the Department of Education’s website at the following link:
[3]https://www.nj.gov/education/doedata/enr... This data is
listed by District, as well as by individual school.
2. Please provide documents indicating the total number of students whose
parents have availed themselves of the opt-out provisions of
N.J.S.A.18A:35-4.7 and opted their child out of all or a portion of
the 2020 NJSLS-CHPE mandate or curriculum promulgated in accordance
thereto for the 2022-2023 school year. Please provide documents
indicating the number of opt-outs by individual grade levels.
Please note that the District is still reviewing this request and is
requesting a 2-week extension until August 30, 2023, to provide you with
any responsive documents.
3. Please provide a copy of the document(s) used by the district by which
parents can opt-out or opt-in their children from all or a portion of
the curriculum mandated by the 2020 NJSLS-CHPE in your district.
Please see the attached Health/Family Life Topics Opt Out Letter and
Form. This is also available on our website at the following link:
[4]https://camdencityschools.org/families/
4. Please provide documents showing how you implemented the “parent
opt-out” for the 2020 NJSLS-CHPE and Health & Physical Education
curriculum and a copy of the document by which parents can opt-out
their children from all or a portion of the curriculum mandated by the
2020 NJSLS-CHPE in your district. Including but not limited to forms,
flyers, emails to parents and/or a website.
Please see the attached Health/Family Life Topics Opt Out Letter and
Form. This is also available on our website at the following link:
[5]https://camdencityschools.org/families/
5. Please provide documents showing how the 2020 NJSLS-CHPE mandate was
implemented in your district, for example: a) in the classroom; b) at
home by parents; c) as a homework assignment; d) in an assembly; e) as
a webinar; f) being taught on the last day of school; g) any methods
but with elements removed; h) not at all.
Please note that the District is still reviewing this request and is
requesting a 2-week extension until August 30, 2023, to provide you with
any responsive documents.
6. Copies of the BOE policies and regulations regarding the composition
of your “Book Review Committee,” as well as policies controlling book
reviews or book removal requests.
All Board of Education policies are publicly available on the District’s
website accessible at the following link:
[6]https://camdencityschools.org/about/advi... These
policies include 6161.1 Evaluation and Selection of Instructional
Materials, and 6161.2, Complaints Regarding Instructional Materials.
7. Copies of any book removal or review requests made by residents of
your school district since November 1, 2022 to present.
Please note that the District is still reviewing this request and is
requesting a 2-week extension until August 30, 2023, to provide you with
any responsive documents.
8. If any books have been removed from curriculum or from public school
libraries as a result of a demand for removal or by the Board action
in accordance with your book removal policy, copies of all documents
relating to the review or removal.
Please note that the District is still reviewing this request and is
requesting a 2-week extension until August 30, 2023, to provide you with
any responsive documents.
9. Any documents, policies or regulations relating to the review of
current textbooks or the review of new textbooks or textbooks being
considered for purchase.
All Board of Education policies are publicly available on the District’s
website accessible at the following link:
[7]https://camdencityschools.org/about/advi... These
policies include 6161.1 Evaluation and Selection of Instructional
Materials.
10. Copies of all legal bills from the Board Attorney or from any outside
council from January 1, 2023 to present
The District is requesting additional information in order to respond to
this request. The District employs an in-house General Counsel, in
addition to contracts with outside counsel for general education, labor
and employment matters, and special conflicts counsel. Please identify
those legal bills you are seeking.
If you have any questions regarding this response, you may contact me at
the email address or phone number below. Should you disagree with this
response, you have the right to appeal. OPRA permits a person who believes
he or she has been illegally denied access to a public record to file a
complaint with the GRC, or file suit in Superior Court to challenge the
decision and compel disclosure. For more information, you may contact GRC
by phone at 1-866-850-0511, by e-mail at [8][email address], or visit
the GRC web site.
Very truly yours,
Samantha L. Price, Esq.| General Counsel
Camden City School District|1033 Cambridge Street| Camden, NJ 08105
(c) 856-220-0978
(o) 856-966-2000 x64330
[9][email address]
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information in this e-mail and any attachments
thereto is intended for the named recipient(s) only even if addressed
incorrectly. This e-mail, including any attachments, may contain
information that is privileged and confidential and subject to legal
restrictions and penalties regarding its unauthorized disclosure or other
use. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that
any disclosure, copying, distribution, or the taking of any action or
inaction in reliance on the contents of this e-mail and any of its
attachments is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you have received this e-mail in
error, please immediately notify the sender via return e-mail; delete this
e-mail and all attachments from your e-mail system and your computer
system and network; and destroy any paper copies you may have in your
possession. Thank you for your cooperation.
Please consider the environment before printing this message.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.nj.gov/education/doedata/enr...
4. https://camdencityschools.org/families/
5. https://camdencityschools.org/families/
6. https://camdencityschools.org/about/advi...
7. https://camdencityschools.org/about/advi...
8. mailto:[email address]
9. mailto:[email address]