Second Letter from Mr. Ramee

I mentioned in a previous post that the letter I sent to Mr. Neal Ramee had crossed in the mail with the letter that Mr. Ramee had sent to me. Mr. Ramee is the I-SS attorney in Raleigh that Dr. Holliday has directed me to contact in place of any I-SS administrator. Earlier this week I received a letter from Mr. Ramee in response to my letter to him. He started off by reiterating the things he mentioned in his previous letter and then went on to respond to my additional requests.

One of my requests was for I-SS to provide documentation that would show that the administration was following School policy that states that a designated electronics officer was ensuring that the computer databases were being indexed as required by law. Mr. Ramee responded by saying that I-SS does not have to prove or disprove an assertion and unless I am able to ask for a specific document I-SS is not under any obligation to respond.

I had also asked to see all requisitions for supplies and services from Jim Shipley & Associates (JSA). After seeing some of the invoices from JSA I figured that there must have been requisitions corresponding to those invoices. Mr. Ramee told me that no such 'requisitions' exist. I have since learned that I-SS does not use a form called a 'Requisition Form' but rather use an 'Authorization Order Form.' Thus I did not ask for the correct forms. I will now have to ask to see those 'Authorization' forms.

Another request I had was to see invoices from Mr. William McMillan and his law firm. Mr. Ramee told me that he would have to talk to Mr. McMillan and to I-SS officials before responding to my request.

I had also asked Mr. Ramee to have I-SS inform me how they determined that the charge for copies of public records would be 25 cents a page. He responded that the I-SS had determined that 25 cents per page is a reasonable charge that reflects the actual costs to the school system of providing such copies. The Iredell public library charges 10 cents a page for copies. I don't see how I-SS can justify 25 cents a page but I guess I just have to accept it.

In a previous post I mentioned that Dr. Holliday had directed me to leave the Central Office when I went there to pick up copies of public records. I asked Mr. Ramee to direct I-SS officials that if someone is at a school building for a legal and rightful purpose, that that person cannot be told to leave the building. Mr. Ramee responded that I could rest assured that I will be granted such access so long as I have an appointment for a specific time, date and place confirmed in advance through him.

I am now going to ask for an appointment to view the records I have requested as well as ask to see additional records.

Banished From the Central Office

I spoke during the public comment section of this evening's Board Meeting. I am inserting the text of what I said.

My name is Paul Klaene. Thank you for allowing me to speak this evening.

Last Thursday, I had an appointment to view certain school records. I was instructed to mark any pages I wanted copied and that those copies would be available to pick up today. I did mark a number of pages to be copied. Today, when I went to the Central Office to pick up the copies, I was told that there would be a cost of $18.00. I tried to explain to Dawn Creason that there should be no charge since I-SS policy states that when a person first requests copies of school records, he will be told the cost for copies. When I first asked for copies of school records in January, Mr. Ellis told me that there would be no charge for copies. As I was trying to explain this to Ms. Creason, Dr. Holliday walked up to me and very gruffly told to leave the building. When I calmly tried to explain myself, he again directed me to leave the building. He did allow me to pay for my copies before leaving. Attached to the copies there was a note stating that if, in the future, I would like additional information or have further questions, I am to contact the school attorney, Mr. Neal Ramee whose office is in Raleigh.

One of the records I wanted to see last Thursday was the I-SS computer database indexes. I was told that the indexes were not available. As you know, NC state law and I-SS Policy requires that all computer database indexes should be made available to individuals requesting public records. I first requested public records in January of this year, and I specifically asked for a copy of the database indexes two months ago but I have not yet received them. As I stated last month, I am asking the Board to direct the school administration to expedite my request for these indexes as well as my other requests for public records to which the administration has not yet responded.

Last Friday, I sent an e-mail to Mrs. Wike asking for an appointment to examine additional school records on Thursday of this week. I have not heard back from Mrs. Wike. Will I be allowed to view those records at that time?

NC state law and school policy give me a right to examine school records. No school employee should be allowed to impede that right.

Let me also add that my grandson was with me today when I went to pick up those copies. When we got back to the car my grandson asked: who was that mean man? My grandson is a first grader at Third Creek elementary and that is now his impression of the Superintendent.

During Dr. Holliday's time to comment at the end of the meeting he stated that he had directed all of his staff not to have any contact with me and that he had told me to direct my requests through the attorney, Mr. Ramee, so that they could make sure that they comply with the Freedom of Information Act. Dr. Holliday also stated that my request for information had cost I-SS $5,000.00 in staff time and attorney's fees.

If the administration had just complied with my requests for public records as required under the Freedom of Information act and NC state law they could have saved a lot of money. I-SS has been retaining the services of Mr. McMillan here in Statesville and now they are going to hire an attorney in Raleigh. Dr. Holliday is the one causing the system to spend all of this money, not me.