CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON

ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS

Via Electronic Mail

January 24, 2017

Ms. Betsy Hart

RE: Freedom of Information Act Request-RESPONSE

Dear Ms. Hart,

On January 18, 2017, New Trier Township High School District 203 received a Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) request from you, pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information
Act (the Act) 5 ILCS 140/1 et seq., for the following records:

Request #1: A list, in Microsoft Excel, with appropriate headings, of all individuals
hired to participate in any way in the Seminar or in preparation for
the Seminar, or in expectation of following-up from the seminar. This
includes but is not limited to all speakers, facilitators, consultants and
support staff, custodial and security, and all fees, honorariums,
expected per diems, travel expenses or other reimbursement, for or
related to the Feb. 28 Program.

Response: A list of presenters/speakers is attached in Microsoft Excel format.

The list includes speakers and facilitators. No consultants have been
hired. A list of district support staff involved in supporting the day
has not been created. Outside speakers have been offered a $200
honorarium. Colson Whitehead will be paid a $15,000 fee. Andrew
Aydin will be paid a $5,000 fee. New Trier employees are paid their
regular daily rates, and are not paid separately from the seminar.
New Trier students presenting are not paid. Student presenter names
have been redacted. The School District is prohibited from releasing
information that identifies individual students under the Illinois
School Student Records Act. 105 ILCS 10/6. Information that is

7 Happ Rd Northfield, IL 60093-3411 phone 847.784.3408 johnsonc@newtrier.k12.il.us

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Ms. Betsy Hart
January 24, 2017
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prohibited from disclosure under the Illinois School Student Records

Act is exempt from disclosure under Sections 7(1)(a) and 7.5(r) of the
FOIA. 105 ILCS 10/6; 5 ILCS 140/7(1)(a); and 5 ILCS 140/7.5(r).

Request #2: A list of any and all New Trier staff, faculty, support staff, or custodial
and security staff who will have no involvement of any kind in the
New Trier Seminar day itself on February 28th.

Response: No responsive records. All employees are either involved in

supervising students, supporting the seminar, or performing their
regularly assigned duties.

Request #3: Declare the total average operating cost per day for New Trier High
School, both campuses, including only those days school is in session,
using the most recent records available, using the standard definition
of operating costs, which includes but is not limited to all salaries,
benefits, maintenance, utilities, transportation and security costs.

Response: The total operating cost for FY 16 is $25,583 per fiscal year per pupil.
Operating cost is not calculated on a daily basis. Operating
expenditures for that period are $93,946,908. There are 260 work days
for 12-month staff, and 182 school days for school year staff.

Request #4: Attendance records at both campuses for 1/14/16, 1/15/16, 1/18/16,
1/19/16 and 1/20/16.

Response: Attendance reports for the requested days are attached.

Request #5: Records of all emails or communications of any kind, to or from any
representative of New Trier High School, to or from any
representative of the staff of Rep. John Lewis, Democrat, 5th District
Georgia, or to or from Rep. Lewis himself.

Response: The district has no communications with Representative Lewis or his

staff. Last fall, the District contacted the Family Awareness Network
(FAN), which frequently arranges for authors to give book talks to the
community at local schools on a variety of topics to see if
Representative Lewis and his co-author would be willing to speak
about their book, either on the seminar day or in the evening

To the extent you consider this response as a denial of your request, you have the right to
have the denials contained in this letter reviewed by the Public Access Counselor (PAC) at

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Ms. Betsy Hart
January 24, 2017
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the Office of the Illinois Attorney General. 5 ILCS 140/9.5(a). You can file your Request for
Review with the PAC by writing to:

Public Access Counselor

Office of the Attorney General
500 S. 2nd Street
Springfield, Illinois 62701
Phone: 1-877-299-3642
Fax: 217-782-1396
E-mail: publicaccess@atg.state.il.us

If you choose to file a Request for Review with the PAC, you must do so within 60
calendar days after the date of this denial letter. 5 ILCS 140/9.5(a). Please note that you
must include a copy of your original request for documents and the denial letter when
filing a Request for Review with the PAC. You also have the right to seek judicial review
of your denial by filing a lawsuit in the State circuit court. 5 ILCS 140/11.

Sincerely,

Christopher T. Johnson, FOIA Officer

Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations

CTJ/pls

cc: Dr. Linda Yonke, Superintendent

Board of Education members

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