FOIA
East Maine School District 63 responds to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for public records in accordance with Illinois' Freedom of Information Act and District Board Policy 2:250 Access to District Public Records.
Public Records Defined
The District’s public records are defined as records, reports, forms, writings, letters, memoranda, books, papers, maps, photographs, microfilms, cards, tapes, recordings, electronic data processing records, electronic communications, recorded information, and all other documentary materials pertaining to the transaction of public business, regardless of physical form or characteristics, having been prepared by or for, or having been or being used by, received by, in the possession of, or under the control of the School District.
How Requests are Handled
Requests are handled according to the timeline set forth by law. The FOIA Officer approves all requests for public records unless:
- The requested material does not exist.
- The requested material is exempt from inspection and copying by the Freedom of Information Act.
- Complying with the request would be unduly burdensome.
D63 responds to requests either fulfilling or denying each request within five business days (excluding state holidays) after their receipt (commercial requests are handled within 21 business days after their receipt). However, the FOIA Officer may extend the response time by five additional business days if the request meets the requirements of Section 3 of FOIA.
If an extension is needed, the FOIA Officer will:
- Notify the requester of the reason for the delay, and
- Either inform the requester of the date on which a response will be forthcoming or determine a mutually agreeable date for compliance in writing.
When responding to a request for a record containing both exempt and non-exempt material, the FOIA Officer will redact exempt material from the record before complying with the request. PLEASE NOTE: Often, the information requested is available on our website including budgets, union contracts, business contracts, access to our school State Report Cards, Board documents, and more. Feel free to explore the site first; it may save some time.
Submitting a Request
FOIA requests may be submitted in writing by mail, personal delivery, fax, or e-mail. Or, download and complete a FOIA Request Form.
All requests should be submitted to:
Janet Spector Bishop
FOIA Officer
East Maine School District 63
10150 Dee Road
Des Plaines, IL 60016
Phone: 847-299-1900
Fax: 847-299-9963
Fees
No fees are charged for the first 50 pages of black and white, letter, or legal-sized copies. After that point, the District is permitted to charge $0.15/page – and it may charge for reproduction costs of large or color copies. For commercial requests, it may also charge for time and labor. Regarding electronic records, the District is permitted to charge the actual cost of CDs, flash drives, etc., and for data megabytes. In certain circumstances, the requester may ask for a fee waiver if the request is “in the public interest.” See Section 6 of the Act.
List of Documents Immediately Available for Release
Organizational Overview
East Maine is a public school district in Illinois serving 3,600 PreK-8 students in five elementary schools and one middle school. The District incorporates portions of Des Plaines, Glenview, Morton Grove, Niles, and Park Ridge. A seven-member Board, elected at large by District residents, sets policy and hires/supervises a paid superintendent to carry out these policies and manage day-to-day operations.
Office hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., except for holidays.
Summer Hours: Closed on Fridays