Freedom of Information Act - Creston Community Consolidated School District #161

Freedom of Information Act & Access to Public Records

In accordance with the State of Illinois Freedom of Information Act and Creston Community Consolidated School District 161 Board of Education Policy, the district’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) officer, Nicole Zellmer, will respond to requests from anyone desiring to inspect and/or copy a district public record. Requests will be approved, unless the requested material is (a) not a “public record” as defined by Policy 2:250; (b) exempt from inspection and copying by the Freedom of Information Act or any other state or federal law; or (c) not required to be preserved or cataloged. Also, FOIA requests can be denied if complying would be unduly burdensome.

The Creston CCSD 161 Board of Education and administration believes in complete transparency and posts a wide range of public documents on its website at www.crestonschool.org, including current and past meeting agendas and minutes, employee contracts and salary information, contracts exceeding $25,000, the current fiscal year budget, detailed monthly disbursements and the most recent annual financial report and the annual statement of affairs.

If any information needed is not readily available online, please submit a FOIA request to Nicole Zellmer, the district’s FOIA officer or by sending a fax request to (815)384-3410 or email to nzellmer@crestonschool.org with the subject line FOIA request. Please provide a specific description of the records requested. If you have any questions about filing a FOIA request, please call (815)384-3920.Please click here for a frequently asked questions (FAQ) publication from the Illinois Attorney General’s office about the Illinois FOIA law.

Exemptions

To allow governmental bodies to operate efficiently and protect personal privacy, the Act exempts (excludes) specific types of records from public release, with some general examples including but limited to: medical records, student records, attorney-client privileged correspondence, staff discipline files, test questions and answers, security plans, and the minutes of closed session meetings not yet approved by Board vote for release.

Timelines

Public bodies are required to respond in writing to written requests for records within 5 working days. If within those 5 working days the public body denies the request, it must notify the requester in writing and cite the reason(s) under the law.

The public body has 21 business days to respond to a request for records which will be used for “commercial purposes.” Under the FOIA law, commercial purposes means the use of any part of a public record or documentation derived from a public record in any form for sale, resale, or solicitation or advertisement for sales or services.

Appeals

As the requester, you have the right to “request for review” (appeal) Creston #161’s response to any request. See below for contact information for the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.

Public Access Counselor
Office of the Attorney General
500 S. 2nd Street
Springfield, Illinois 62701

Phone: (877) 299-3642
Fax: (217) 782-1396

E-mail: public.access@ilag.gov