FREEDOM OF INFORMATION COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT
In the Matter of a Complaint
by FINAL
DECISION
Carrie W. Gordon and Success
Programs,
Complainants
against Docket
#FIC 88‑249
Stamford Superintendent of
Schools,
Respondent October
12, 1988
The above‑captioned matter was heard as a contested
case on August 17, 1988, at which time the complainants and the respondent
appeared, stipulated to certain facts and presented testimony, exhibits and
argument on the complaint.
After consideration of the entire record, the following
facts are found:
1. The
respondent is a public agency within the meaning of §1‑18a(a), G.S.
2. By letter
dated May 26, 1988 the complainants made a request of the respondent for a list
of parents of tenth and eleventh grade students in the respondent's school
system.
3. The
respondent failed to respond to the complainants' request.
4. By letter
of complaint filed with the Commission on June 27, 1988 the complainants
appealed the respondent's failure to provide the requested records.
5. At
hearing, the complainants clarified their request by stating that they were
seeking the names and addresses of parents of tenth and eleventh grade
students.
6. At
hearing the respondent requested a continuance for the purpose of presenting an
additional witness, which request was denied.
7. It is
found that information maintained by the Stamford school system includes each
student's name and home address, the names of all brothers and sisters 21 years
or younger living at the same address, the name of the "head of the
Docket #FIC 88‑249 Page
Two
household," parents' or
a guardian's names, occupations and places of employment and the names and
addresses of persons to contact in an emergency.
8. It is
further found that the records maintained by the Stamford school system do not
specifically identify parents' addresses.
Mailings from the school system are sent "to the parents of,"
followed by each student's name and address.
9. It is
concluded that the respondent does not maintain a list such as was requested by
the complainants.
10. It is
further concluded that the respondent did not violate §§1‑15 or 1‑19(a),
G.S. when he failed to provide the complainants with a list of the names and
addresses of parents of tenth and eleventh grade students.
11. Based on
the above conclusion, the Commission does not need to address other claims of
the respondent regarding the disclosability of the information requested.
The following order by the Commission is hereby
recommended on the basis of the record concerning the above‑captioned
complaint.
1. The
complaint is hereby dismissed.
Approved by order of the Freedom of Information
Commission at its special meeting of October 12, 1988.
Catherine
H. Lynch
Acting
Clerk of the Commission