Email from West Ed To Goffstown
Superintendent Stacy Buckley
Email was delivered on Friday night.
Buckley kept it under wraps for three days.
GOFFSTOWN, NH March 30. 2103–7:30 PM–Goffstown Superintendent Stacy Buckley claimed she didn’t get the email delivering the Mountain View Middle School Report until Monday Morning. However, in response to our Right To Know Request, Buckley was forced to release the transmittal email that clearly shows it was sent early in the evening on the Friday before the March 4, 2013 school board meeting at which it was presented. But that’s not all that was revealed.
Buckley refused to release the report that day claiming it was not a public document until it was given to the school board. Aside from that simply being just wrong, she presented it to the school board without providing any overview of the study’s findings, stating she’d only received it that day and only had a chance to read 23 of its 116 pages.
One would think that a study so important and so egarly awaited would not only have received the immediate and full attention of the superintendent, but also been forwarded in a timely fashion to the school board so they could review it prior to the meeting at which it was to be presented.
That notwithstanding, Buckley’s refusal provide the report after its presentation to the board shows a wanton disprespect not only for the Right to Know Law, but also the citizens it’s meant to inform. Instead of providing the electronic copy of the report, she insisted it be picked up at the school district’s headquarters and that I pay $29 ($0.25 per page) for the document; a document she also claimed she was going to post on the district’s Web site.
Below is yet another incredible chain of email that comes from a request to Superintendent Stacy Buckley, whose apparent goal is to make every effort to obstruct the public’s ability to access information from the district. As we write this now, we are still waiting for information on another Right To Know Request, this one involving the total payoff to resigned Mountain View Middle School Principal Jim Hunt. We were able to get Buckley to cough up the goods on a $30,000 pay out in addition to his continuing to be paid as if he were on the job for the balance of the school year. However, she has refused to provide information on when those payments will stop and whether or not the district continues to provide health and dental benefits and retirement payments or any other compensation.
We will continue to press for this information and will publish any we get.
In the meantime, all email between myself and Buckley is posted below so you can see just how intent she is on making it difficult for the public to know what she and that school board are doing.
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: WestEd report
From: <“>rich@girardatlarge.com>;
Date: Mon, February 25, 2013 11:48 am
To: “Stacy Buckley” <“>sbuckley@goffstown.k12.nh.us>;
I write to request a copy of the report you’d expected to receive from WestEd on Friday regarding their review of Mountain View Middle School.
As you know, the report was paid for with taxpayer funds, making it subject to the Right to Know Law. While I understand you’ve stated it will not be released to the public until the March 4 School Board meeting, please know that we are unaware of any reason why dissemination of this report to the public would be delayed. In fact, we believe the citizens of Goffstown are entitled to have the report prior to that meeting so that they may offer comments and ask questions regarding the study during the public comment session.
Therefore, it is requested that this study be forwarded or, at the very least, made available at the school district office immediately, or at least in conformity with the dictates of RSA 91-A. Should you choose not to release the report, then your immediate reply citing specifically what provision of the law enables your refusal is expected.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Cordially,
RH Girard
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: Re: WestEd report
From: “Stacy Buckley” <“>sbuckley@goffstown.k12.nh.us>;
Date: Mon, February 25, 2013 11:49 am
To: <“>rich@girardatlarge.com>;
I will be out of the office until Monday, March 4th. I will have no email access during this time. If this is an emergency or you need to speak with someone immediately, please call 497-4818 and ask for an administrator. I will return emails upon my return to the office.
Stacy Buckley
Superintendent of Schools
SAU #19
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: RE: WestEd report
From: “Stacy Buckley” <“>sbuckley@goffstown.k12.nh.us>;
Date: Mon, March 04, 2013 3:47 pm
To: <“>rich@girardatlarge.com>;
Rich,
I am in receipt of your request today, March 4, 2013.
The report will be public on our website tomorrow or you may pick up a copy after tomorrow at the SAU #19 office. The total report is 116 pages for a total cost of $29.00. Please let me know if you would prefer to pick up a copy so that we have time to make one for you.
Stacy
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: RE: WestEd report
From: <“>rich@girardatlarge.com>;
Date: Mon, March 04, 2013 3:51 pm
To: “Stacy Buckley” <“>sbuckley@goffstown.k12.nh.us>;
Thank you for your reply.
I have two questions.
1) Why will this not be made available to the media/public tonight? It is a public document and should be available at the time of distribution.
2) For what reason should I pay a fee? No other community I cover charges me to provide the materials they distribute to board members.
Rich
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: MVMS Report/other info Request
From: <“>rich@girardatlarge.com>;
Date: Mon, March 04, 2013 10:33 pm
To: “Stacy Buckley” <“>sbuckley@goffstown.k12.nh.us>;
Stacy,
Since you disclosed that you received the WestEd study as a PDF document via email, I am writing to ask that that email be forwarded without delay. The study was a public document the moment you received it and was especially one the moment you handed it out to the School Board. That you chose not to have copies available for the press or the public is, in my opinion, a violation of the Right to Know Law.
Also, copies of the agreement proposed by Dunbarton and the Area Agreement document that was the subject of Dian McCarthy’s failed motion are requested via email. Clearly, they exist in electronic format and can be sent in that format at no cost and with no imposition to the district. Therefore, it is expected that they will be sent as requested.
Thank you.
Rich
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: RTK request
From: <“>rich@girardatlarge.com>;
Date: Wed, March 06, 2013 5:57 am
To: “Stacy Buckley” <“>sbuckley@goffstown.k12.nh.us>;
Stacy,
Just because you’ve released the report doesn’t mean my request for the email that transmitted it has disappeared. I still expect that email, which you said you received at Monday’s meeting, to be forwarded.
Thank you,
RH Girard
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: minutes unsealed on Monday Night
From: <“>rich@girardatlarge.com>;
Date: Wed, March 06, 2013 3:21 pm
To: “Stacy Buckley” <“>sbuckley@goffstown.k12.nh.us>;
Hi, Stacy.
Please either provide the minutes the board unsealed on Monday night’s meeting or advise where they can be obtained.
Thank you.
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: RE: minutes unsealed on Monday Night
From: “Stacy Buckley” <“>sbuckley@goffstown.k12.nh.us>;
Date: Wed, March 06, 2013 3:38 pm
To: <“>rich@girardatlarge.com>;
Good afternoon Rich,
Attached is the West Ed study as requested.
I will have a copy of the minutes at the front desk of the SAU office available for your pick up in about an hour.
Stacy
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: RE: minutes unsealed on Monday Night
From: <“>rich@girardatlarge.com>;
Date: Wed, March 06, 2013 4:01 pm
To: “Stacy Buckley” <“>sbuckley@goffstown.k12.nh.us>;
Hi, Stacy.
I requested the email from WestEd containing the study. Please forward it.
Kindly fax the minutes to 1-866-491-2003. As this poses no burden on the district and may, in fact save paper and toner, there is no reason to deny this request.
Thank you.
Rich
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: RE: minutes unsealed on Monday Night
From: “Stacy Buckley” <“>sbuckley@goffstown.k12.nh.us>;
Date: Thu, March 07, 2013 11:24 am
To: <“>rich@girardatlarge.com>;
The minutes had already been copied and are at the receptionist desk for your pickup.
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: RE: minutes unsealed on Monday Night
From: <“>rich@girardatlarge.com>;
Date: Thu, March 07, 2013 2:03 pm
To: “Stacy Buckley” <“>sbuckley@goffstown.k12.nh.us>;
Stacy,
I am generally unavailable to visit your office during normal business hours. Therefore, kindly have the minutes faxed to xxx-xxxx.
Also, when will you forward the email from WestEd that transmitted the MVMS report?
Thank you,
Rich
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: still waiting
From: <“>rich@girardatlarge.com>;
Date: Mon, March 11, 2013 12:31 pm
To: “Stacy Buckley” <“>sbuckley@goffstown.k12.nh.us>;
for you to forward the email from WestEd transmitting the MVMS study. Kindly forward immediately.
——– Original Message ——–
Subject: RE: still waiting
From: “Stacy Buckley” <“>sbuckley@goffstown.k12.nh.us>;
Date: Tue, March 12, 2013 9:22 am
To: <“>rich@girardatlarge.com>;
Per your request.
Stacy
Email from West Ed
