06-12-98 Bedford Central Rebuffs Christe's FOIL Requests

By AMY KELLEY

BEDFORD - Mount Kisco resident Philip Christe, a self-described "constant observer and critic" of the Bedford Central School District, has filed several requests for information from the district under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). However, the district has refused some of his requests, although Robert J. Freeman, executive director at the New York State Committee for Open Government, has stated that in his opinion Mr. Christe is entitled to the information.

Mr. Christe has filed requests for all of the IRS W-2s and 1099s issued by the school district in 1997. He was informed in a letter from district clerk Verna Carr that his request was denied after "this request was discussed with the school's attorney and we were told that it is all unreasonable invasion of privacy." He has also requested the ninth-grade English curriculum, book lists, vocabulary lists, projects and handouts, in the wake of the suspension of ninth-grade English teacher Sean Budlong. In addition, he requested physical education lesson plans for the week of May I I in the wake of contentions from other district parents that the First Amendment was violated by tile visit of a yogi to gym classes. Although he was provided some English Curricular material, Mr. Christe was notified in a letter from Ms. Carr dated June 5 that the 9th - grade English  and physical education plans are, according, to the school's attorney. "intra-agency documents" and thus not available to him.

After he received the letters refusing his requests, Mr. Christe called Mr. Freeman.

.Mr. Freeman said he then faxed to both Mr. Christe and Schools Superintendent Dr. Bruce Dennis an opinion he wrote on a similar matter involving W-2's which he stated that a public employee's gross wages should be given, but in another manner that wouldn't reveal information such as a Social Security number. If Mr. Christe doesn't get the financial information, or the lesson plans, that he has requested, he can go to the  school board president and then to court, Mr. Freeman said.

"It seems to me that this is factual information, and statistical or factual information has to be made available said Mr. Freeman "Gross wages paid by the school district clearly should be public. [Funds that the taxpayers shell out - there's no question."

"What is secret about a lesson plan? It seems to me that a lesson plan is our internal guide to what is taught in the  classroom," said Mi. Freeman. he pointed out that each lesson plan is taught to many students, and so the contents of a lesson plan are hardly intended to be kept secret.

Dr. Dennis said that Mr. Freeman's opinion notwithstanding, the district will not make it) requested information available to Mr. Christe. "I reviewed [the information sent by Mr. Freeman, our attorney\ reviewed it,- and the attorney does not believe that Mr. Christe is entitled to it. Dr. Dennis said. "Mr. Christe seems determined to do every thing he can to derail the district - by tying its up with meaningless requests.

"He is entitled to seek the information," added Dr. Dennis.

Most recently on Monday June 8,Mr. Christe requested the District's IRS W-3s for the past 20 years (W 3's list the total number Of employees and the total pay roll for a given year) "That request is still up in the air", said Mr., Christe at press time I have not heard back on that one"

"What I think I am going to find is that there is an overwhelming number of local residents who depend on the bureaucracy to grow- on the backs of the taxpayers. The more local people get hired
the bigger the base to pass the budgets that are injuring the community," said Mr. Christe. "That's my hypothesis. I want to see if it's true."


"I want the  information." he added. it's important information and it's clearly public  information.  I'm trying to do the job reporters should be doing."