Other (indicate in message) Submitted: July 23, 2024 | Updated: September 12, 2024

(July 2024) Request for Rutherford County, NC Schools: Keyword specific emails and texts. From 06/01/24 – 07/07/24.

Good evening Brad, Paul, Kim, Tammie, (Custodian(s) of these records / Records Officer),

Please reply promptly to the following public records request, which I’m making in accordance with NC Public Records Law.
https://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bychapter/chapter_132.html

Please provide all emails and SMS text messages exchanged between COO Brad Teague and School Board Member Paul Scott, during the time period of 06/01/2024 - 07/07/2024. Specifically – I’m only requesting those communications which contain any of the following keywords:

“sixth grade building” , “6th grade” , “cafeteria”, “county” , “purchase” , “sheriff” , “office” , “sheriff office” , “moving” , “timeline” , “old RSM” , “commissioners” , “school board” , “dollars”

I am explicitly asking that you DO NOT provide me with any confidential / sensitive / or personally identifying information about specific students or their data (if that type of info happens to be contained in the responsive records).

** I’m simply requesting an electronic copy of an electronic record, if one exists. I’m NOT asking for the opportunity to come in person to "inspect", nor to obtain a printed copy of, this electronic record. I’m requesting explicitly that any responsive info be provided to me via the electronic medium / electronic format (in which the copy of this record already exists). If you are unable to fulfill any or all parts of this request, please specifically cite where a reason for denial is justified under NC Public Records Law. **
————————————

Please note that by submitting this request, I’m NOT agreeing to pay any potential fees or associated costs related to my request. If it isn’t possible to process the request without incurring fees, then please let me know the itemized potential cost and clear explanations of those charges upfront, and DO NOT proceed until I respond.

By Law I’m not required to provide a name or address to associate with a public records request, but in order to move things along I’d like to clarify that this request is being made by:

Sunshine Request
PO Box 17391
Asheville, NC 28816

The request has been sent solely by me and my email address [email protected] . If anyone other than that email address contacts you to pursue a similar request, it did not come from me. Please do not commingle or treat that as an alteration or cancellation of my request – I intend to continue to pursue my request.

Thank you for your assistance!

** Sunshine Request (www.sunshinerequest.com) makes no claim as to the veracity of any statements or information contained in any of the requests, or public records, we receive.

Editor’s Note: Sunshine Request makes no claim as to the veracity of any statements or information contained in any of the requests, or public records, we receive.

Status: Completed

Documents:

Activity:

  • September 12, 2024 5:30 pm

    2 months ago

    from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
    to: David Sutton <[email protected]>
    cc: Tammie Ash <[email protected]>, [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
    date: Sep 12, 2024, 5:30 PM
    subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Public records request. (July 2024) Request for Rutherford County, NC Schools: Keyword specific emails and texts. From 06/01/24 – 07/07/24.

     

    Hi David,

     

    Tomorrow morning I will go ahead and mark this request as “Completed” on our website, as you’ve indicated there “… are no email or SMS text messages responsive to [my] request.”

     

    However, to ensure that the public is clear about how this request was fulfilled, I’d like to ask that you please clarify the following:

     

    When you say there are no responsive SMS text message records, does that mean you’re unable to find any records using your Google Vault system specifically? Or, did you reach out directly to the individuals / custodians of those text records (Brad and Paul)? Please confirm whether they were asked to provide those responsive records.

     

    If you’re able to clarify that additional information, I’ll be happy to post that update to our site.

     

    Thank you for your help!

    Status: Completed
  • August 22, 2024 5:40 pm

    3 months ago

    from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
    to: David Sutton <[email protected]>
    cc: Tammie Ash <[email protected]>, [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
    date: Aug 22, 2024, 5:40 PM
    subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Public records request. (July 2024) Request for Rutherford County, NC Schools: Keyword specific emails and texts. From 06/01/24 – 07/07/24.

     

    Good evening David,

     

    I’m following up on my previous message 08/13. I have not heard back.

     

    Understand that in your email on July 25 you stated that you “… reviewed [your] archives, and there are no email or SMS text messages responsive to [my] request.” However, the screenshot you also provided along with the message on July 25, showed only that a search of gmail / emails was performed — not a search of text messages.

     

    Can you please clarify how you searched for the requested SMS text messages between Brad and Paul?

     

    I will follow up again in 1 week, if I don’t hear anything else before then.

     

    Thank you.

     

    ~ The Sunshine Request Team

    Status: Follow up
  • August 13, 2024 4:00 pm

    3 months ago

    from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
    to: David Sutton <[email protected]>
    cc: Tammie Ash <[email protected]>, [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
    date: Aug 13, 2024, 4:00 PM
    subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Public records request. (July 2024) Request for Rutherford County, NC Schools: Keyword specific emails and texts. From 06/01/24 – 07/07/24.

     

    Hi David,

     

    Thank you for your response.

     

    I apologize if I’ve been unclear. Allow me to rephrase:

     

    I acknowledge that the body of your email stated there were no responsive emails or SMS texts. However, the screenshot you provided seems to only show a search of gmail / emails that was performed — not a search of text messages.

     

    Can you please clarify how you searched for the requested SMS text messages between Brad and Paul?

     

    Thank you for your help!

    Status: Clarification Requested
  • August 13, 2024 3:56 pm

    3 months ago

    from: David Sutton <[email protected]>
    to: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
    cc: Tammie Ash <[email protected]>, [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
    date: Aug 13, 2024, 3:56 PM
    subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Public records request. (July 2024) Request for Rutherford County, NC Schools: Keyword specific emails and texts. From 06/01/24 – 07/07/24.

     

    As I indicated in my July 25 response, there are no email or SMS text messages responsive to your request.

     

    David M. Sutton, Ed.D.
    Superintendent
    Rutherford County Schools
    382 West Main Street | Forest City, NC 28043
    Phone 828.288.2200 | Fax 828.288.2490

     

    All email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law (N. C. Gen. Stat. § 132-1 et seq.), which may result in monitoring and disclosure to third parties, including law enforcement.

    Status: Clarification Provided
  • August 12, 2024 6:42 pm

    3 months ago

    from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
    to: David Sutton <[email protected]>
    cc: Tammie Ash <[email protected]>, [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
    date: Aug 12, 2024, 6:42 PM
    subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Public records request. (July 2024) Request for Rutherford County, NC Schools: Keyword specific emails and texts. From 06/01/24 – 07/07/24.

     

    Good evening David, Tammie, all others CCed,

     

    In regard to the following public records request I submitted to your offices on July 23:
    (July 2024) Request for Rutherford County, NC Schools: Keyword specific emails and texts. From 06/01/24 – 07/07/24.

     

    This is my third attempt to follow up with David and Tammie since July 25th. I have not received a response.

     

    To reiterate —
    I understand the screenshot David sent me on July 25 was intended to show that a search of emails with the requested dates / keywords was performed, and that there were no responsive records. However, my request asked for “… all emails and SMS text messages”. The text message portion of my request has not been addressed.

     

    I’d like to ask again if you can please confirm / clarify whether you also searched for the requested SMS text messages between Brad and Paul? Please clarify how a search was conducted for those texts, and whether there were any responsive results.

     

    Thank you for your help!

     

    ~ The Sunshine Request Team

    Status: Follow up
  • August 5, 2024 5:31 pm

    3 months ago

    from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
    to: David Sutton <[email protected]>
    cc: Tammie Ash <[email protected]>
    date: Aug 2, 2024, 5:31 PM
    subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Public records request. (July 2024) Request for Rutherford County, NC Schools: Keyword specific emails and texts. From 06/01/24 – 07/07/24.

     

    Hi David and Tammie,

     

    Following up on my previous emails 07/25. I have not heard back.

     

    I understand that the document David sent is meant to show that a search of emails with the requested dates / keywords was performed, and that there were no responsive records. I’d like to ask again that you please clarify whether you also searched for the SMS text messages I requested between Brad and Paul? Do you have similar documentation that clarifies how a search was conducted for those texts, and whether there were any responsive results?

     

    Thank you.

     

    ~ The Sunshine Request Team

    Status: Follow up
  • July 25, 2024 11:27 am

    4 months ago

    from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
    to: David Sutton <[email protected]>
    cc: Tammie Ash <[email protected]>
    date: Jul 25, 2024, 11:27 AM
    subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Public records request. (July 2024) Request for Rutherford County, NC Schools: Keyword specific emails and texts. From 06/01/24 – 07/07/24.

     

    Hi David,

     

    Thank you for your message.

     

    I understand the document you sent is meant to show a search of emails with the requested dates / keywords was performed, and that there were no responsive records.

     

    Can you please clarify whether you also searched for the requested SMS text messages between Brad and Paul? Do you have similar documentation that clarifies how a search was conducted for those texts, and whether there were any responsive results?

     

    Thank you for your help.

     

    ~ The Sunshine Request Team

    Status: Clarification Requested
  • July 25, 2024 8:22 am

    4 months ago

    from: David Sutton <[email protected]>
    to: [email protected]
    cc: Tammie Ash <[email protected]>
    date: Jul 25, 2024, 8:22 AM
    subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Public records request. (July 2024) Request for Rutherford County, NC Schools: Keyword specific emails and texts. From 06/01/24 – 07/07/24.

     

    We have reviewed our archives, and there are no email or SMS text messages responsive to your request.

     

    David M. Sutton, Ed.D.
    Superintendent
    Rutherford County Schools
    382 West Main Street | Forest City, NC 28043
    Phone 828.288.2200 | Fax 828.288.2490

     

    All email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law (N. C. Gen. Stat. § 132-1 et seq.), which may result in monitoring and disclosure to third parties, including law enforcement.

     

    **Editor’s Note: Please see 1 screenshot file David referenced in his email (“Screenshot-2024-07-25-at-12.05.48-AM.png”) at top left in our Documents section.

    Status: Response Received from Government
  • July 23, 2024 7:09 pm

    4 months ago

    from: Sunshine Request <[email protected]>
    to: [email protected]
    cc: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
    date: Jul 23, 2024, 7:09 PM
    subject: Public records request. (July 2024) Request for Rutherford County, NC Schools: Keyword specific emails and texts. From 06/01/24 – 07/07/24.

     

    Good evening Brad, Paul, Kim, Tammie, (Custodian(s) of these records / Records Officer),

     

    Please reply promptly to the following public records request, which I’m making in accordance with NC Public Records Law.
    https://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bychapter/chapter_132.html

     

    Please provide all emails and SMS text messages exchanged between COO Brad Teague and School Board Member Paul Scott, during the time period of 06/01/2024 – 07/07/2024. Specifically – I’m only requesting those communications which contain any of the following keywords:

     

    “sixth grade building” , “6th grade” , “cafeteria”, “county” , “purchase” , “sheriff” , “office” , “sheriff office” , “moving” , “timeline” , “old RSM” , “commissioners” , “school board” , “dollars”

     

    I am explicitly asking that you DO NOT provide me with any confidential / sensitive / or personally identifying information about specific students or their data (if that type of info happens to be contained in the responsive records).

     

    ** I’m simply requesting an electronic copy of an electronic record, if one exists. I’m NOT asking for the opportunity to come in person to “inspect”, nor to obtain a printed copy of, this electronic record. I’m requesting explicitly that any responsive info be provided to me via the electronic medium / electronic format (in which the copy of this record already exists). If you are unable to fulfill any or all parts of this request, please specifically cite where a reason for denial is justified under NC Public Records Law. **
    ————————————

     

    Please note that by submitting this request, I’m NOT agreeing to pay any potential fees or associated costs related to my request. If it isn’t possible to process the request without incurring fees, then please let me know the itemized potential cost and clear explanations of those charges upfront, and DO NOT proceed until I respond.

     

    By Law I’m not required to provide a name or address to associate with a public records request, but in order to move things along I’d like to clarify that this request is being made by:

     

    Sunshine Request
    PO Box 17391
    Asheville, NC 28816

     

    The request has been sent solely by me and my email address [email protected] . If anyone other than that email address contacts you to pursue a similar request, it did not come from me. Please do not commingle or treat that as an alteration or cancellation of my request – I intend to continue to pursue my request.

     

    Thank you for your assistance!

     

    ** Sunshine Request (www.sunshinerequest.com) makes no claim as to the veracity of any statements or information contained in any of the requests, or public records, we receive.

    Status: Sent to Government
  • July 23, 2024 7:07 pm

    4 months ago

    Submitted to Sunshine Request
    Status: Pending