Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a state statute that provides the public the right to access government documents and records. The premise behind FOIA is to ensure transparency of government. The law provides that a person can ask a public body for a copy of its records on a specific subject and the public body must provide those records, unless there is an exemption in the statute that protects those records from disclosure. The Cary Community Consolidated School District has developed the Administrative Regulations and Procedures to comply with the conditions and provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.
How to File A Freedom of Information Act Request
FOIA Officer: Ms. Jessica Neal
A request for inspection and/or copies of public records must be submitted electronically via email. Requests must be clearly stated in the body of the email.
- Email: foia@cary26.org
- Mail or In Person: 2115 Crystal Lake Road, Cary, IL 60013
- Fax: 847-639-3898
FOIA Officer: Ms. Jessica Neal
Fees
Persons making a request for copies of public records must pay any and all applicable
fees. The Freedom of Information Officer shall establish a fee schedule that complies
with FOIA and this policy and is subject to the Board’s review. The fee schedule shall
include copying fees and all other fees to the maximum extent they are permitted by
FOIA, including without limitation, search and review fees for responding to a request
for a commercial purpose and fees, costs, and personnel hours in connection with
responding to a voluminous request.
Copying fees, except when filed by statute, shall be reasonably calculated to reimburse
the District’s actual cost for reproducing and certifying public records and for the use, by
any person, of its equipment to copy records. In no case shall the copying fees exceed
the maximum fees permitted by FOIA. If the District’s actual copying costs are equal to
or greater than the maximum fees permitted by FOIA, the Freedom of Information
Officer is authorized to use FOIA’s maximum fees as the District’s fees. No copying
fees shall be charged for; (1) the first 50 pages of black and white, letter or legal sized
copies, or (2) electronic copies other than the actual cost of the recording medium,
except if the response is to a voluminous request, as defined in FOIA.
A fee reduction is available if the request qualifies under Section 6 of FOIA. The
Freedom of Information Officer shall set the amount of the reduction taking into
consideration the amount of material requested and the cost of copying it.
While not required by law, Cary 26 will also post most fulfilled requests to its website for increased transparency and as a courtesy to the public.