As parents and/or taxpayers, it is our right and responsibility to hold our public institutions and our elected officials accountable. The Oklahoma Open Records Act was specifically created to address these rights. Michael has made requests into the city government, public education, and federal and state agencies. Below are examples of some requests sent into the Edmond Public Schools. Please contact Michael if you need any assistance with the most effective ways and strategies to get the answers you are looking for.
michael@rope2.org call or text 405/726-0975
Example Requests
Example 1: Broad Safety and Financial Questions
Michael Grande
721 Ramblewood Ter
Edmond, OK 73034
04/29/2021
Edmond Public Schools
1001 W Danforth Rd
Edmond, OK 73003
Dear Clerk:
Under the Oklahoma Open Records Act, 51 §24A.1 et seq., I am requesting an opportunity to inspect or obtain copies of public records that pertain to Superintendent Bret Towne, Associate Superintendent Angela Grunewald, Associate Superintendent Debbie Bendick, Executive Director of Elementary Education Cara Jernigan, COO Jeff Coffelt, CFO Lori Smith, Associate Superintendent of Human Resources Randy Decker, School Board Members: Kathleen Duncan, Jamie Underwood, Lee Ann Kuhlman, Cynthia Benson, and Merideth Exline and/or any staff member of the above named.
- I would like to receive copies of all email correspondence, sent, received, deleted, and redacted for confidentiality along with all internet search and browsing history from June 1st, 2020 through April 30th, 2021, that contain any of the following search terms; or generally in refence to:
- coronavirus, covid, covid19, covid-19, cv19, virus, corona, safety, protection, quarantine, contact, close contact, spread, infection, mask, masks, symptoms, damage, student heath, teacher concerns, and in relation to: wearing / not wearing the mask
2. I am requesting any information the above named received or sent about wearing masks.
3. I am requesting a copy of all scientific studies that the above mentioned have researched on their own accord pertaining to the coronavirus and/or the masking of students, including copies of all scientific studies, especially and specifically, all records that pertain to studies that have been performed in a matter of: double blind, randomized, control.
4. I am requesting a copy of all data and correspondence including credentials for all doctors, specialist, and experts that met with or guided or gave any input to EPS in any capacity.
5. I am requesting a list of all meetings held to discuss the virus, etc., and who attended, when it was held, and any minutes or notes taken in that meeting. This request should include meetings of committees, staff, teachers, government agencies, etc.
6. I am requesting the list of the specific faculty members that were part of the Return to Learn
committee, I would like all communications that pertain to covid and masks.
7. I am requesting records that pertain to OSHA required safety evaluations for each employee.
- OSHA copy of the assessment of risks and hazards at the work environment from coronavirus at EPS.
- The OSHA evaluation for the EPS determining what type of masks or respirators are required and why.
- A copy of all training procedure performed in relation to the mask.
- A summary copy of all medical and fitness evaluations performed on each employee to make sure they were able to wear mask at work.
- A copy of the EPS’s Hierarchy of Safety Controls performed before requiring masks. A copy of the EPS’s Health, Safety and Compliance programs that are in place to deal with coronavirus to ensure the safety of employees.
- I would like any and all evidence that the EPS’s required masks are approved by NIOSH
for use, and a copy of those approvals from NIOSH - A copy of the procedures and documents put in place to comply with OSHA Respirator
Standards including the work/rest cycles. - A copy of OSHA credentials for the individual or firm that performed the risk assessment, medical and fitness evaluations, and mask approvals.
8. I am requesting a copy of all correspondence in any form, from every employee in the EPS system to and from any leader, organizer, manager, representative, or attorney in or from the Teachers Union.
9. I am requesting a yearly summary copy of all school absences- student and faculty and administration due to illness from 2016-YTD, for all of EPS
10. I am requesting a complete detailed financial accounting (p&l statement and balance sheet) of
the Care’s Act money received by EPS. I am also requesting a complete list of all vendors or people(s), or entity who received a 1099 paid in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
11. I am requesting all information pertaining to the last three bond issues:
- List of Bonds
How much is still outstanding (unpaid) The obligation to the taxpayer
How the funds were spent - Who received the contracts
- I would also like a list of who submitted bids with their list of what the bid was and what it included.
Who holds the bonds that are still outstanding ie. a bank, a company, or an individual etc. I am requesting summary payroll records for the all the above mentioned at EPS for the last 5
years, including YTD.
If there are any fees for searching or copying these records, please inform me of said costs. Due to the nature of these records being digital, I would prefer to receive digital copies to eliminate paper waste and cost. However, I would also like to request a waiver of all fees in that the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest and will contribute significantly to the public’s understanding of decisions made by the leadership at EPS. This information is not being sought for commercial purposes.
I would request a prompt response to these requests. If you expect a significant delay in responding to or in fulfilling these requests, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records.
If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of the appeal procedures available to me under the law.
Thank you
Sincerely,
Michael Grande 405/726/0975 Michael@rope2.org
Example 2: SEL & CRT
Michael Grande
721 Ramblewood Ter
Edmond, OK 73034
11/16/2021
Edmond Public Schools
1001 W Danforth Rd
Edmond, OK 73003
Dear Clerk:
Under the Oklahoma Open Records Act, 51 §24A.1 et seq., I request the following data:
- Provide a list of vendors from which EPS has purchased any Social Emotional Learning or Diversity, Equity and Inclusion materials and the specific curricula or ancillaries purchased from each.
- Provide the names of all School Counselors and Social Workers employed by EPS and list any and all Social Emotional Learning or Diversity, Equity and Inclusion curricula or ancillaries each has used with students.
- Provide a list of all purchases made by EPS using money provided by the Edmond Public Schools Foundation Mental Health Fund including, but not limited to, the following programs: Early Birds, TBRI, Conscious Discipline, Project Alert.
- Provide a list of any and all conferences, seminars, or symposia offered to teachers through EPS over the last two years and the curricula associated with each.
- Provide a list of staff engaged by EPS who have provided Social Emotional Learning or
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion curricula or ancillaries directly to students. - Provide any and all PowerPoint decks, documents, or guidance relating to Social Emotional Learning or Diversity, Equity and Inclusion that have been provided to staff for training purposes.
Due to the nature of these records being digital, I prefer to receive digital copies to eliminate paper waste and cost. However, I would also like to request a waiver of all fees in that the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest and will contribute significantly to the public’s understanding of decisions made by the leadership at EPS.
This information is not being sought for commercial purposes.
I would request a prompt response to these requests. If you expect a significant delay in responding to or in fulfilling these requests, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records.
If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of the appeal procedures available to me under the law.
Thank you
Sincerely,
Michael Grande 405/726/0975 Michael@rope2.org