On March 24, 2008, I went to the Natomas Unified School District to ask for a copy of From 700 for their board members and the superintendant and their most recent diversity training reports. I arrived at the schools district’s main office, located on Arena Boulevard across from the Coca Cola plant, at 11:10. I walked into a small waiting room with a large desk approximately 10 feet from the front door. There was a glass partition on the desk separating the waiting room from the secretaries. A woman – I assumed she the person I would be talking too – was behind the desk talking on the phone. While I waited, I looked around the room. Many flyers were taped on the glass partition, and from what I saw; none of them discussed the California Public Records Act. When the woman hung up the phone, I introduced myself and asked for the appropriate material. She wrote my question down and picked up the phone to call someone regarding my request. While she was on the phone she asked me what the request was in regards too. I told her that I’m a Sacramento State student working on a project. I did not tell her my name or my affiliation with the State Hornet. She accepted my response and continued with the phone call. When she hung up the phone, she told that the Form 700 was available online at www.fppc.ca.gov. I then asked if she could provide a copy of the form and she replied that wasn’t something they provide. Before I left, I asked for her name. It was Chris Shelley. I then asked for the name of the person she was on the phone with. She told me her name was Doris and she was the superintendent’s secretary. She then handed me a business card with the superintendent’s contact information. It is important to note that although I didn’t receive the any forms, Shelley was extremely courteous and professional. I left the office at 11:30. I went home and went on the fppc website to find Natomas’ Form 700. I spent about 10 minutes on the website and was unable to find the information.

CalAware Reaction (Terry Francke, General Counsel):

The superintendent’s secretary mistakenly believed that the Form 700s were on the website of the Fair Political Practices Commission and did not appear to realize that the district was required to keep them on file in paper form for public review; consequently no effort was made to fulfill the auditor’s request for copies. Also, the auditor was required to state his affiliation and purpose. As to the information requested in the letter, a response sent within the legally required period said the records would be ready for inspection on April 14 and did not refuse access to any of the requested information.

Michael Mette can be reached at [email protected].