I arrived at the office around 11 a.m. Patty Fagalnifin was sitting at her desk and came to the counter and greeted me. I asked her for the most recently filed statement of economic interests, and told her it was called the 700 form.

Fagalnifin asked why I needed it. I said it was for a project I am working on. She left for a moment and came back with a blank form. I said I needed one that has been filled out. She asked me to wait a moment.

Fagalnifin went to another room and brought back a woman named Susan who explained they had several 700 forms and since they were having their school board meeting this Thursday, the most recent forms would not be ready until Friday. She too asked what I needed the forms for and I explained I was working on a project. She asked me if it was for a class and I said yes.

She asked me to come back Friday for the most recent forms. I then asked for a copy of their records showing the dates of completion for the most recent ethics training. Both women looked baffled, and said they had no idea what I was talking about.

Fagalnifin called someone from her phone and inquired about it. This person also had no idea what I was talking about. I said it is required by AB1234. They still had no idea what ethics-training program I was talking about and had never heard of AB1234.

I called Emily and asked if I should go back and ask for the 700 forms that were already filled out from the previous year and she said yes, please do. I went back and Patty Fagalnifin was still at her desk. I asked her if she could please provide me with the last forms that were filled out showing the statement of economic interests, that it was not necessary to wait to get the newest ones that are coming out on Friday. She said do you want the forms that the board members signed? I said please provide the forms from whomever is in charge of purchasing and contracting. She went back and made copies of the forms filled out by the board members. When she handed them to me, she said she was not going to give me the principles forms because they are not in charge, nor, for that matter, neither is the board. I asked, how about the superintendent, would he be considered in charge? She said she would only give me the board members forms. There was no charge for the copies. I thanked her and left.

CalAware Reaction (Terry Francke, General Counsel):

The district staff provided access to Form 700s for the school board members only – not the superintendent. It also required the auditor’s name, affiliation and purpose for the request. As for the information sought in the written request, no determination letter or even an announcement of extension had been provided 25 days after the request.

Sally King can be reached at [email protected].