Rochester School Board Restricts Trustees’ Data Requests

The Rochester Community Schools Board has made a significant change regarding data requests from its trustees. During a recent meeting, board members voted 5-1 to modify their bylaws. This alteration stipulates that trustees must collectively request district data and documents, rather than seeking information independently.

Details of the New Bylaw

The decision was reached during a meeting held on a Monday. Trustee Carol Beth Litkouhi was the only board member to oppose this change. She argued that her data requests were justified and not excessive.

Reasons Behind the Change

Board members raised concerns about the volume of data requests made by Litkouhi. Secretary Jayson Blake highlighted that fulfilling individual requests can hinder staff and administrators from performing other essential tasks. He further explained that compiling the requested information would take an extensive amount of time.

• Litkouhi reported making 34 requests in September alone.
• Her inquiries covered various topics, including Human Resources and academic statistics.

During the meeting, Litkouhi indicated her requests were not out of the ordinary compared to those of her peers. She affirmed, “I don’t try to be unreasonable.” However, the board maintained that limiting individual access would enhance efficiency, as compiling data from multiple sources across the district is complex.

Concerns About Data Access

Despite the change, individual trustees still retain the ability to access district records through Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act. Blake mentioned that some of the information Litkouhi has requested may indeed be valuable for oversight purposes. He encouraged her to submit requests to facilitate discussion among board members.

Legal Perspective on the Changes

The Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) has provided guidance regarding the legal authority of individual trustees. According to their legal counsel, individual board members cannot direct administrators to provide information outside the public records process. This further supports the board’s decision to establish a collective approach to data requests.

Trustee Litkouhi has been part of the board since 2022 and has encountered previous challenges regarding access to information. She has previously taken legal action against the district for access to class curriculum information and faced censure for her public statements.