Freedom of Information Act Requests

 

As the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requires all public schools to make records available, Ball-Chatham CUSD #5 will respond to all written requests regarding access to the District’s public records. Section 6 of the Act outlines what fees can be assessed to the requestor. 

 

The Ball-Chatham Community Schools, as obligated under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, responds to all written requests of the District's public records.  

 

Instructions for Requesting Information and Public Records:

 

1. Please make your request for records in writing.

2.  Ball-Chatham does not require the completion of a standard form for this purpose, however, a form is available here. To submit the available form electronically, you must save it to your computer and then email it to the appropriate department below. You may submit your written request by email, mail, or in person. If sending your request via email, use FOIA in the subject line to identify your email as a FOIA request and to reduce the possibility of it being filtered as spam.

3. Please be as specific as possible when describing the records you are seeking. Remember, the Freedom of Information Act is designed to allow you to inspect or receive copies of records. It is not designed to require a public body to answer questions or create new records. If you wish to ask questions of an administrator or department director, you may find a listing here.

4. Please tell us whether you would like copies of the requested records, or whether you wish to examine the records in person. You often have the right to do either.

5. For black and white, letter, or legal-size copies, the first 50 pages are free unless a different fee is otherwise fixed by statute. Any additional pages will be charged at 15 cents per page. Color and abnormal size copies will be charged the actual cost of copying.

6. You are permitted to ask for a waiver of copying fees. To do so, please include the following statement (or a similar statement) in your written FOIA request: "I request a waiver of all fees associated with this request." In addition, you must include a specific explanation as to why your request for information is in the public interest - not simply your personal interest - and merits a fee waiver.

7. Please include your name, email address, preferred telephone number(s), and mailing address. You may make an anonymous request if you prefer. 

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Requests for access to the District's public records may be emailed to our FOIA officer Zach Baliva at

zbaliva@bcsd5.org or mailed to: Ball-Chatham District Office, 201 W. Mulberry, Chatham, IL 62629.

 

Ball-Chatham CUSD #5 can not release student records though the FOIA process. Please request student records from the school your student attends.