Compliance 

It is the policy of the Board of Education, School District No. 140, to permit access to and copying of public records in accordance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, hereinafter referred to as the "Act", (5 ILCS 140/1 et. seq.).  The District acknowledges its obligation to provide public records to requesters as expediently and efficiently as possible pursuant to the Act.  All public records as defined in the Act are presumed to be open to inspection and copying, and unless a requested record is believed to be exempt from disclosure under Section 7 of the Act, it shall be so made available in a prompt and efficient manner. 

Requesting Records 

With the exception of "Student Records" as defined by the Illinois School Student Records Act, a request for records must be in writing and directed to the School District.  Requests should be sent to the District Office, directed to the District Freedom of Information Officer, but requests received at any school office shall be processed. Upon receipt of a request for records, the request shall be immediately given to the District Freedom of Information Officer. 
 
Any person requesting records for a commercial purpose must advise the School District that the request is for a commercial purpose and such a request will be handled in the manner described below. 
 
Any person orally requesting records shall be advised to put the request in writing to the District, directed to the attention of the District Freedom of Information Officer.  Any person requesting records may, but shall not be required to, use the District's "Request for Inspection or Copying of Records" form.  This form shall be made available to any person upon request. 
 
Records will be available for inspection and copying during regular business hours at the Kirby School District Administrative Center, located at 16931 South Grissom Drive, Tinley Park, Illinois 60477.  Please call (708) 532-6462 to make an appointment.

District Freedom of Information Officer

The District has designated the following as Freedom of Information Officers:  

• Ms. Susan Haynie, Communications Coordinator 
• Dr. Daniel F. Callaghan, Superintendent     

FOIA requests should be submitted to foia@ksd140.org.

Upon receiving a request for a public record, the Freedom of Information Officer shall: 

1. Note the date the public body received the written request; 
2. Compute the day on which the period for response will expire and make a notation of that date on the written request;  
3. Maintain an electronic or paper copy of a written request, including all documents submitted with the request until the request has been complied with or denied; and 
4. Create a file for the retention of the original request, a copy of the response, a record of written communications with the requester, and a copy of other communications related to the request.  

Content of Requests

All requests should, to the extent reasonably possible, specify with particularity the records requested to be retrieved and copied.  If any records are to be certified, it must be so indicated in the request, specifying which records are to be certified. 

Requests for Commercial Purposes

In accordance with the requirements of the Act, any person requesting public records for a commercial purpose must inform the District that the requested records are to be used for a commercial purpose.  The District’s response to such a request shall be made within 21 days and shall otherwise be in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Act.  Section 2c-10 of the Act defines commercial purpose to mean: the use of any part of a public record or records, or information derived from public records, in any form for sale, resale, or solicitation or advertisement for sales or services. For purposes of this definition, requests made by news media and non-profit, scientific, or academic organizations shall not be considered to be made for a "commercial purpose" when the principal purpose of the request is (i) to access and disseminate information concerning news and current or passing events, (ii) for articles of opinion or features of interest to the public, or (iii) for the purpose of academic, scientific, or public research or education. 

Recurrent Requester

Public Act 97-0579 defines “recurrent requester” as a person that, in the 12 months immediately preceding the request has submitted to the same public body (i) a minimum of 50 requests for records, (ii) a minimum of 15 requests for records within a 30day period, or (iii) a minimum of 7 requests for records within a 7-day period.  The Act allows a governmental body additional time to comply with a FOIA request from a recurrent requester.  It also authorizes a public body to charge a fee for each hour spent by personnel in searching for and retrieving requested records.

Request for Student School Records 

Requests for student records from parents, students, or other persons authorized to request records under the Illinois School Student Records Act may be directed to the Building Principals.  Requests for student records by such persons shall be processed in accordance with the Student Records Act and the district's policies and regulations on student records.

Responses to Requests for Records 

Within five (5) working days after receipt of a written request for records, the District Freedom of Information Officer will provide one or more of the following responses to the person requesting the records: 

1. Advise in writing that the records are available for inspection or copying at a designated location within the school district.  If copies have been requested, the records are available for pickup at a designated location within the school district, along with a statement of the required fee, if any.  However, in the event that the fee for copying the requested records exceeds Ten Dollars, the records will not be copied unless the fee is paid in advance and the requesting party shall be advised of this requirement. 
2. That the five-day limitation has been extended to not more than five (5) additional working days pursuant to Section VII below. 
3. Advise in writing that the request is unduly burdensome due to its categorical nature or size and that the requesting party has the opportunity to meet and confer with a District Freedom of Information Officer to attempt to make the request manageable. 
4. Deny, in whole or in part, the request in writing, stating the specific basis for denial to include a detailed factual basis for the application of the claimed exemption.  Any denial shall be made in writing and mailed or given personally within the five (5) day period or any extension thereof.

Intent to Deny Request 

If the District receives a request for public records and asserts that the requested records are exempt from disclosure under either subsection (1)(c) or subsection (1)(f) of Section 7 of the Act, the District’s Freedom of Information Officer shall, within the time limit for the response (five (5) working days),  provide written notice to the requester and to the Public Access Counselor of the District’s intent to deny the request in whole or in part.  This notice shall include:  (1) a copy of the request for the records; (2) the proposed response from the District; and (3) a detailed summary of the District’s basis for asserting the exemption.

Right to Review by PAC and to Judicial Review 

Any denial of a request for public records shall include a statement that the person requesting the records has the right to a review of the denial by the Public Access Counselor and shall provide the address and phone number of the Public Access Counselor.  The requester shall also be informed of the right to seek judicial review pursuant to Section 11 of the Act.

Exempt Records 

Certain public records are exempt from copying and inspection pursuant to Sections 7 and 7.5 of the Act.  If any public record exempt from disclosure under Section 7 of the Act contains any material that is not exempt, the District may elect to redact the information that is exempt and make the remaining information available for inspection and copying.

Extension of Time to Comply 

The time limit of five (5) working days to comply with a request for records may be extended in each case for not more than five (5) additional working days for certain reasons noted in the Act.  If the time is to be extended, notice shall be given to the requester in writing, indicating the reason for the extension of time for disclosure. 
 
The requester and the District may agree in writing to extend the time for compliance for an agreed-upon period of time.

Retrieval and Copying 

Retrieval and copying of records are limited to employees of Kirby School District 140, designated by the Superintendent or another District Administrator.

Inspection of Records 

Inspection of records shall be permitted only in the presence of an employee of the school district designated by the Superintendent or other District Administrator.

Catalog of Records      

Records received or prepared beginning July 1, 1984, are cataloged by type as listed in these guidelines.

Central File for Denial Letters 

A central file of copies of all denial letters, indexed by the type of exception for the denial, will be maintained by the Superintendent's Office.

Fees 

The fees for copies of records shall be as provided below or as otherwise determined by the Board of Education from time to time. 

• No fee shall be charged for the first 50 pages of requested black-and-white copies. 
• $.15 per page, after 50, for black-and-white copies. 
• Actual cost for color copies or electronic medium. 
• $1.00 per certificate if the copies are to be certified. 

 
If the person making the request for records states that the purpose of the request is for health, safety and welfare or legal rights of the general public rather than for personal benefit or commercial gain and requests that the fee be waived or reduced, the Superintendent may, upon inquiry of the precise reason for the request, grant such waiver or reduction as he deems appropriate.  Should any person wish to appeal a fee waiver or reduction decision of the Superintendent, such appeal must be made in writing to the Board of Education.

Questions 

Should any person have any questions regarding access to public records of the School District that are not answered in the Guide, those questions may be addressed to the District’s Freedom of Information Officer. 
       

Schools and Administrative Center 

Kirby School District 140 is a public school district located in Tinley Park, Cook County, Illinois. The district is organized under the laws of the State of Illinois for the purpose of providing its residents with schools for Grades Pre-Kindergarten through eight for the education of all eligible persons in the school district. 
 
The school district operates the following schools, all located in Tinley Park, Illinois, and Orland Park, Illinois. There is an office in each of the listed schools. 
 
John A. Bannes School 
16835 South Odell Avenue 
Tinley Park, Illinois 60477  
(708) 532-6466  
Serves Grades PreK - 5 

Fernway Park School 
6600 South 88th Avenue 
Orland Park, Illinois 60477 
(708) 349-3810 
Serves Grades PreK - 5 
      
Helen Keller School  
7846 West 163rd Street 
Tinley Park, Illinois 60477 
(708) 532-2144  
Serves Grades PreK - 5 

Christa McAuliffe School 
8944 West 174th Street 
Tinley Park, Illinois 60477 
(708) 429-4565 
Serves Grades PreK - 5 
 
Millennium School      
17830 South 84th Avenue
Tinley Park, Illinois 60477 
(708) 532-3150 
Serves Grades PreK - 5  
 
Virgil I. Grissom Middle School 
17000 South 80th Avenue
Tinley Park, Illinois 60477
Phone No. (708) 429-3030 
Serves Grades 6 - 8 

Prairie View Middle School  
8500 West 175th Street
Tinley Park, Illinois 60487 
Phone No. (708) 532-8540 
Serves Grades 6 - 8 
      
The Kirby School District 140 Administrative Center is located at 16931 South Grissom Drive, Tinley Park, Illinois 60477, Telephone: 708-532-6462.

Board of Education Members

The school district is governed by a seven-member Board of Education.  The Board's office is located in the Administrative Center located at 16931 South Grissom Drive, Tinley Park, Illinois.  Present members of the Board of Education are: 

• Thomas J. Martelli, President 
• Aileen Mullee-DiTuri, Vice-President 
• Carol DeMicheal, Secretary 
• Chuck Augustyniak 
• Melissa Bessler 
• John T. Lutz 
• Tiana Pequette 

Employees 

The school district employs approximately 550 full-time employees and approximately 75 part-time employees.

Operating Budget

The school district's operating budget is approximately $54,000,000.

List of Records

A record's list of the types or categories of records maintained by the School District is set forth in Appendix A in these Guidelines. 

Organizational Chart 

 

1. Accident Reports 
2. Accreditation and School Visitation Reports 
3. Activity Fund Records 
4. Agreements (Intergovernmental) 
5. Annual Finance Report 
6. Annuity Providers 
7. Attendance Registers and Reports 
8. Audits 
9. Bid Documentation and Specifications 
10. Bills and Invoices 
11. Blueprints - Buildings 
12. Board Members 
13. Board Resolutions 
14. Board Meetings 
15. Board Agenda and Minutes 
16. Bonds 
17. Budget 
18. Building Schedules 
19. Bus Records 
20. Calendar 
21. Cash Receipts and Deposit Slips 
22. Committee Agenda and Minutes 
23. Contracts 
24. Deeds 
25. Educational Program Plan 
26. Election Records 
27. Employee Handbook 
28. Enrollment Reports and Records 
29. Fall Housing Report 
30. Federal Title Programs 
31. Fire Inspection Records 
32. Forms 
33. Freedom of Information Requests and Denials 
34. Goals and Objectives - District 
35. Graduation Records 
36. Grant Programs  
37. Immunization Report 
38. Imprest Fund Records 
39. IMRF Records 
40. Insurance Policies 
41. Insurance Claims 
42. Inventory 
43. Legal Notices 
44. Life Safety Records 
45. Newsletters (current) 
46. Payroll Summaries and Check Register 
47. Permits 
48. Personnel Names, Titles and Dates of Employment 
49. Policies 
50. Procedures 
51. Professional Meeting Records 
52. Profile - District 
53. PTO Member Names (current)  
54. PTO Goals and Objectives 
55. Purchase Orders 
56. Real Estate Tax Receipts 
57. Requisitions 
58. Revenue Receipts and Reports 
59. Salary Reports and Schedules 
60. School Report Cards 
61. Special Education Program Records 
62. Standardized Testing Records 
63. State Aid Records 
64. Student Fee Reports (current) 
65. Surveys 
66. Tax Levies 
67. Textbook Program Records 
68. Textbooks 
69. Unemployment Reports 
70. Use of Facilities Reports and Records 
71. Utility Bills and Reports 
72. Vehicle Records