Does Providence Count The Same Way The State Does??

20 December 2020

Providence City Solicitor Jeffrey Dana

Office of the Providence City Solicitor’s Office

Providence City Hall

25 Dorrance Street

Providence, RI  02903

Dear Solicitor Dana:

Under the Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act, §38-2-1 et seq., I am requesting an opportunity to inspect or obtain copies of public records that deal with quarantining by various personnel.

I am looking for staff (particularly teachers, but administrators and support professionals as well) absentee data for this year by date and school.  If records are kept that indicate which of those absences are quarantine related, or quarantine “summary” reports exist, I would like a copy of each one for each school.  If summary reports do not exist, or quarantined personnel are not “separated” please provide electronic copies of all records dealing with absences.

If there are any fees for searching or copying these records, please inform me if the cost will exceed $200.  The Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act requires a response time within seven business days. Due to pandemic conditions and the Holidays, that may not be possible.  If you have to submit by school in a “piece meal”fashion, that is perfectly acceptable.  Please contact me weekly with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records.

If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of the appeal procedures available to me under the law.

Thank you for considering my request.

Sincerely,

Robert T. Oliveira

Warwick, RI
315-864-1229