Dennis Repair Estimates - FOIA Request Denied, Upcoming Board Meeting
During the September 12th Board of Education Meeting, Board Member Mark Reynolds said "we have had two quotes for repairing the buildings," and that the staircase repair was "like $1.1 million".
I sent a FOIA request to Board Secretary Melissa Bradford for "Documents, emails, or other records detailing repair estimates" for the two Dennis buildings.
My request was denied per 5 ILCS 140/7(h), which states "Proposals and bids for any contract ... [are exempt] until an award or final selection is made."
Bradford noted there would be a Special Meeting on Monday October 2nd, 2023 at 5:30pm "regarding the two firms that responded to the District's request."
Due to the upcoming meeting, I will not be sending a Request For Review.
Request Details
Purpose: To collect repair estimates for the Dennis Lab buildings
To: Decatur Public Schools District 61, Melissa Bradford MBradford@dps61.org
Short-Name: 2023-09-dennis-estimates
Timeline:
- Sent: 2023-09-13, to Melissa Bradford
- Extension: 2023-09-20, from Melissa Bradford
- Response: 2023-09-27, from Melissa Bradford
Documents:
- FOIA Request Email - Email Thread of request/response
- FOIA Response Letter - the PDF Response letter
Request:
Under Illinois FOIA, I request the following:
- Documents, emails, or other records detailing repair estimates for Dennis Lab's Mosaic Campus, regarding 2023 structural issues.
- Documents, emails, or other records detailing repair estimates for Dennis Lab's Kaleidoscope Campus, regarding 2023 structural issues.
Mark Reynolds mentioned these repair estimates last night during BOE and said the Mosaic estimate was around 1.1 million. Kent Metzger had said two firms had responded to District requests, so I'd expect 2 estimates for each building.
Response:
- Documents, emails, or other records detailing repair estimates for Dennis Lab's Mosaic Campus, regarding 2023 structural issues. Mark Reynolds mentioned these repair estimates last night during BOE and said the Mosaic estimate was around 1.1 million. Kent Metzger had said two firms had responded to District requests, so I'd expect 2 estimates for each building.
a. Response: 5 ILCS 140/7(h) Proposals and bids for any contract, grant, or agreement, including information which if it were disclosed would frustrate procurement or give an advantage to any person proposing to enter into a contractor agreement with the body, until an award or final selection is made. Information prepared by or for the body in preparation of a bid solicitation shall be exempt until an award or final selection is made. Therefore, your request has been denied. There is no document responsive to your request.
Response: The structural analysis for Dennis Mosaic can be found via our website as follows: www.dps61.org ~ Once on DPS’s home page, click the link on the right of our two Dennis campuses that says “click here to read structural analysis, timeline and next steps” or by entering the following link: https://engage.dps61.org/dennisfuture
Please note: There will be a special Open Session meeting on Monday, October 02, 2023 at 5:30 PM in the 1* floor Board Room regarding the two firms that responded to the District’s request.
- Documents, emails, or other records detailing repair estimates for Dennis Lab's Kaleidoscope Campus, regarding 2023 structural issues. Mark Reynolds mentioned these repair estimates last night during BOE and said the Mosaic estimate was around 1.1 million. Kent Metzger had said two firms had responded to District requests, so I'd expect 2 estimates for each building.
a. Response: 5 ILCS 140/7(h) Proposals and bids for any contract, grant, or agreement, including information which if it were disclosed would frustrate procurement or give an advantage to any person proposing to enter into a contractor agreement with the body, until an award or final selection is made. Information prepared by or for the body in preparation of a bid solicitation shall be exempt until an award or final selection is made. Therefore, your request has been denied. There is no document responsive to your request.
Response: The structural analysis for Dennis Kaleidoscope can be found via our website as follows: www.dps61.org ~ Once on DPS’s home page, click the link on the right of our two Dennis campuses that says “click here to read structural analysis, timeline and next steps” or by entering the following link: https://engage.dps61.org/dennisfuture
Please note: There will be a special Open Session meeting on Monday, October 02, 2023 at 5:30 PM in the 1* floor Board Room regarding the two firms that responded to the District’s request.