Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

  • FOIA is the state Freedom of Information Act. Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, records in the possession of public agencies may be accessed by the public upon written request. Pursuant to Section 2 (c), “public records” are all records, reports, forms, writings, letters, memoranda, books, papers, maps, photographs, cards, tapes, recordings, electronic data processing records, recorded information, and all other documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics, having been prepared or having been or being used, received, in the possession of or under the control of any public body.

    Frequently Asked Questions about the Freedom of Information Act

    FOIA Request Process

    If your inquiry is simply a question and not a request to see a specific record or document, you can call DPS Administrative Offices at 217.362.3000 and ask to speak with the appropriate staff on that topic. You do not need to file a FOIA request unless you want to access a specific record or document.

    Many types of documents and other sources of information can be found on our website. However, if your interest in DPS requires a FOIA request, please first read the FAQ document linked above, which describes the process, and then use one of the following ways to submit your request:

    By Email: MBradford@dps61.org

    By Mail:

    Decatur Public School District #61
    ATTN: Melissa Bradford, FOIA Officer
    Keil Administration Building
    101 West Cerro Gordo St.
    Decatur, IL  62523
     
    By Fax: 217.424.3009

    Monthly FOIA Report

    The Superintendent or designee shall: (1) provide the Board with sufficient information and data to permit the Board to monitor the District’s compliance with FOIA and this policy, and (2) report any FOIA requests during the Board’s regular meetings along with the status of the District’s response. The Board Secretary serves as the District’s FOIA Officer and will inform the Board of Education of any FOIA Reports from the previous month at every first Board meeting of the month. 

    Click through the tabs at the top to view the monthly FOIA reports.

      Jan-July 2023

      Date Received Due Date Extension Due Date Requestor Topic Summary Date Responded
      01/04/23 01/11/23 01/19/23 Matthew Spain, Attorney Discipline administered to and/or received by Scott Wagner during his employment with public body and any investigation(s) and communications associated with that discipline; employee file of Scott Wagner, minus any records exempt by Section 7 of the Act or redactions of personal information; and any correspondence, related to any complaints filed or lodged against Scott Wagner. 01/18/23
      01/10/23 01/18/23 None James Dellert, DPS Employee How many people applied for this position (Safety & Security Admin), qualifications of persons interviewed, why the position closed but re-opened, why some were interviewed yet other not, qualifications or not, correspondence in reference to this job opening and any person the applied for the position and correspondence about this position with the name James Dellert, Jim Dellert, Dellert included. 01/18/2023
      01/26/23 02/02/23 None Nathan Mihelich, IL Retired Teachers Assoc. Name and email address of certified staff (teachers, administrators, nurses, counselors, etc.) who are retiring this year 01/27/23
      02/01/23 02/08/23 None Mike Mathieson, Community Member Form that shows Contracts Exceeding $25,000, and the website links to the form for 2015, 2016 through the most current year reported and current fiscal year and the previous FY of contract awarded greater than $10,000 (value, company name and duration. 02/07/23
      02/03/23 02/10/23 None Nick Wong, Community Member Names of employees (teachers, admin, staff, etc.) of the district, their job title (including grade/subject or dept), home base, years in district, FTE hour, salary amounts, and lane/step if applicable for School Year 2022 and 2021. 02/07/23
      02/05/23 02/13/23 None Ruth Cortright, Community Member U.S. Mail addresses for the current board members 02/07/23
      02/07/23 02/14/23 None Sara Madden-Jones, Paralegal Documents and video concerning any incidents or complaints related to bus driver Irene M. Henderson from 01/01/22-10/10/22 02/09/23
      02/15/23 02/23/23 None Reed Sutman, Community Member In a recent meeting, the superintendent said they received a very long email from one of the staff that was very concerning, then proceeded to talk about how the community needs to help with the school. I'd like a copy of the email that she was referencing, as well as any forwards & replies of said email. 02/22/23
      02/23/23 03/24/23 None Sheri Reid, SmartProcure Purchasing records from 12/05/22 – 02/23/23. 03/02/23
      02/27/23 02/28/23 None Paul Phillips, Public Data Research DPS 61 employees first and last names, email address, title/position, and primary department. 02/28/23
      03/01/23 03/08/23 03/15/23 Valerie Wells, Herald & Review Number of expulsions approved in each of the last five years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and so far this year up to today. Of those expulsions, how many were referred to alternative education. 03/14/23
      03/03/23 03/10/23 None Records Management, Catalyst Financial Group, LLC For all employees of Decatur Public School District, could you please provide me with the following information? Name, Position/Title, Years of Service in the District, Years of Service in the State,Building/Location, District Email Address, Personal Phone Number, Personal Email Address and Salary. 3/10/23

      Aug-Dec 2022

      Date Received Due Date Extension Due Date Requestor Topic Summary Date Responded
      08/01/22 08/08/22 None Robert Mooth, Community Member Has the Board publicly reviewed the "culturally relevant" books that 1st Educators is putting in the classrooms and school libraries? If so, what were their findings? Was the public notified of, and allowed to review, these books before their injection into our school system? Please send me a complete list of all the books and materials already placed and being used, as well as a list of books that will be placed, in the schools. 08/01/22
      08/02/22 08/09/22 None Lloyd Davis, SED Parent Date was supposed to be 8/1/2021 - 7/25/2022 can you try to locate a foia under same grounds but under different dates. Records on emails and text messages and phone calls as well documents received by Sarah Schrader of Macon piatt special education department. this documents in essence should reveal any document made against myself or report. this should day from 8/1/2022- current date. District phone number is 217-619-2167. I'm Request all documents and evidence that considered to be against m 08/10/22
      08/04/22 08/11/22 None Illinois Policy Research Number of complaints about teachers with the district by parents each year, beginning with 2016-2017 school year until present and process that the school district uses when it receives a complaint about a teacher from a parent. 08/11/22
      08/08/22 08/15/22 None Leara Evans, Retired Teacher Contract for purchase or bill of sale for the old Garfield Elementary/Durfee building located on the corner of Grand and Oakland, district policy on dropping retired teachers from the substitute list, job description for behavior interventionist positions, Communication Director’s job description and the District’s organizational chart. 08/15/22
      08/08/22 08/15/22 None Leara Evans, Retired Teacher Retired person to the Director of Human Resources position without posting the position and at least attempting to fill the vacancy. Jason Hood resigned on March 24, 2022 and Deanne Hillman retired officially on June 1, 2022. TRS requires that retirees can only fill vacant positions after the district has exhausted all efforts to fill a position. 08/15/22
      08/08/22 08/15/22 None Joshua Gibson Community Member School board meeting by-laws. 08/11/22
      08/09/22 08/16/22 None Krystal Bennett, All Town Bus Driver Contract between dps61 and alltown. 08/11/22
      08/10/22 08/17/22 None Donna Ciabatti, Community Member Dps61's current contract with Alltown bus company. 08/11/22
      08/10/22 08/17/22 08/24/22 Jacob Jenkins, Community Member HR Director Posting, date it was posted and on what sites, for how long, and when it was reposted on those sites, internal and external applicants for this position, email or text messages between BOE, HR Staff, any District employee, DLTD, with the words Human Resources Director, or HR and Board policy or ethics violation associated with interviewing Sarah Oakes while her father is a sitting board member and president. 08/24/22
      08/10/22 08/17/22 None Steve Grimm, Community Member Andrew Taylor’s email. 08/11/22
      08/11/22 08/18/22 None Leara Evans, Retired Teacher Dates that Director of HR position was posted from 03/24/22-08/01/22, dates that Director of Labor Relations position was posted from 03/24/22-08/01/22, how long must positions be posted as required by the Department of Labor, how many applicants were interviewed for DHR and the dates, job descriptions for DHR and DLR, posting for the Vacant School Board position that was announced at last night’s 08/09/22 meeting and deadline for receiving resumes and the name of the person it should be sent t 08/18/22
      08/26/22 09/02/22 None Annie Ma, Reporter, Associated Press Data regarding the number of student expulsions held in abeyance in the district for each school year between 2016-2021, including raw total, raw data by race, raw data by gender, raw data for students with an IEP/non-IEP, raw data for students by grade in school and raw data for students placed in an alternative educational program and policies or standard agreements for expulsions held in abeyance contingent on placement in an alternative educational program, or any other similar term or pract 08/30/22
      08/26/22 09/02/22 None Joshua Gibson, Community Member Why submission deadline was extended since I applied to fill the seat and wasn’t ever contacted? Also, what is the board’s policy in the by-laws that prompts an extension in submission deadline in relation to this and if there are any laws, by-laws and/or requirements for posting openings for open board seats and minimum/maximum time frame to keep the posting open as well as the same time frame for filling the seat? 08/31/22
      08/29/22 09/28/22 None Sheri Reid, SmartProcure Purchasing records from 05/31/22 – 08/29/22. 08/30/22
      09/07/22 09/14/22 None Leara Evans, Retired Teacher List of names that applied for the school board position, how many minority teachers are there working that hold a Professional Educators License (PEL), how many retired teachers that hold a PEL are working and filling vacant positions as long term substitutes, what is the pay for a long term substitute that hold a PEL, what is the pay for a substitute that does not hold a PEL, written copy of the procedure or policy that is used to drop retired teachers from the district’s substitute list, how 09/14/22
      09/07/22 09/14/22 None Lori Nelson, Community Member Emails by the board members pertaining to the seat position that became open on august 23, 2022. This should include all emails about to the submissions received, the resume and letter of interest deadline extension, and any email regarding selecting a new member filling the open seat since the new deadline of august 31to now and since the beginning of the procedure to fill the now open seat. 09/14/22
      09/09/22 09/16/22 None Joshua Gibson, Community Member Did I need to make it clear somehow that I met the qualifications laid out in the posting of the board of education seat opening? 09/14/22
      09/09/22 09/16/22 None Valerie Wells, H&R Reporter List of the person(s) who applied for the board seat vacated by former President Dan Oakes. 09/14/22
      09/14/22 09/21/22 None Joshua Gibson, Community Member Emails by any member of the board of education relating to the open board seat. The opening, the discussion of the candidates, the selection, the deadline extension and reason, everything. 09/21/22
      09/14/22 09/21/22 None Margie Payne, School Specialty Bid tab information for Quote # 666-79. 09/15/22
      09/16/22 09/23/22 None Jennifer Smith Richards, Chicago Tribune MPSED for 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 school years: number of student referrals to law enforcement, number of student arrests by law enforcement for and number of incidents in which a student was cited or ticketed by law enforcement for an ordinance violation. 09/21/22
      09/21/22 09/28/22 None Brea Acosta, EHS Parent Incident regarding our daughter on 8/18/22 at EHS. 09/28/22
      09/21/22 09/28/22 None Melanie Ishmael, MPSED Parent Number of students in each DPS building and in each class, number of long-term subs total and in each building, number of certified teachers on DPS’s payroll total and per building, number of Paraprofessionals in DPS total and per building, number of open teacher and paraprofessional positions, list of supplies that fall under instructional and the process to acquire, list of supplies that fall under the school budget and the process to acquire and where is the process for getting supplies docum 09/28/22
      09/22/22 09/29/22 None James Dellert, DPS Employee Can you provide information to obtain the FOIA forms, request, requirements and what the district will and will not provide? Of course, by law not district policy. 09/28/22
      09/29/22 10/06/22 None Leara Evans, Retired Teacher School district board agendas for March 12, 2019 and June 9, 2022, number of teaching positions for 2022/2023, number of vacant positions and vacant positions are filled by retired teachers. 10/06/22