Transparency News, 11/17/21

Isle of Wight County’s School Board voted unanimously on Nov. 10 to make changes to its policies on public comments at board meetings. The changes repeal the 30-minute cap but reduce the allotted time per speaker to four minutes and restrict public comments made at the beginning of the meeting to items scheduled on that meeting’s agenda for discussion. Speakers wishing to comment on a topic not listed on the agenda would need to wait until the conclusion of the meeting to be heard. Those who wish to speak on a scheduled agenda item must submit a request to do so at least one business day in advance of the meeting to the superintendent’s office. Those who wish to speak on topics not on the agenda may sign up the day of the meeting. Speakers are still limited to speaking only once per meeting.
The Smithfield Times

Spotsylvania County schools will not remove “sexually explicit” books from library shelves or conduct a full audit of library holdings—but some School Board members said they will continue to take a stance against the inclusion of what they view as offensive material in school library books. The board on Monday night rescinded last week’s directive to pull books with “explicit” content from shelves amid backlash from the public. The board’s vote came shortly after midnight, following four-and-a-half hours of public comment from dozens of parents, students, teachers and librarians. Nearly all of those who made comments at the special-called meeting spoke passionately in support of libraries and books.
The Free Lance-Star

 

It’s a persistent threat facing consumers everywhere that often starts with hearing two chilling words: data breach. From the retailers where we shop, to the hospitals, schools and government agencies we interact with, our personally identifiable information is in so many hands these days, it’s angering when it slips through a company’s fingers and into the palms of hackers or thieves. But trying to tabulate how often Illinoisans are victims can be a difficult task.  While the state of Illinois does have laws on the books requiring all parties to notify the Attorney General’s office if an Illinoisan’s information has been compromised, the state -- like a majority across the U.S. -- does not publish those notifications for the public to see.  But after filing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for all data breach notifications sent to the state in the last two years, NBC 5 Responds has gone ahead and done just that.
NBC Chicago

 

 

I am writing regarding a column written by Sherri Story that appeared in the Nov. 14, 2021, edition of the Suffolk News-Herald. I want to point out some inaccuracies in the column relative to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. (VFOIA) First, the column mentions that the VFOIA is “a law that especially aids minorities, outsiders, and citizens who are purposefully and intentionally sidelined.” [Italics and bold for emphasis]. The right to access public records under the VFOIA only applies to “citizens of the Commonwealth, representatives of newspapers and magazines with circulation in the Commonwealth, and representatives of radio and television stations broadcasting in or into the Commonwealth.” The VFOIA only applies to those referenced in Virginia Code Section 2.2-3704, subsection A. Second, the column mentions that requests for records must be answered within five “business” days. A response to a public record request must be given to the requester within five “working” days as provided for under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3704, subsection B. Second, the column mentions that requests for records must be answered within five “business” days. A response to a public record request must be given to the requester within five “working” days as provided for under Virginia Code Section 2.2-3704, subsection B.