FOIA & Open Meetings
Open Meetings Act
All meetings held by the Board of Education for the Belvidere School District must comply with the Illinois Open Meetings Act. The Illinois Attorney General has prepared a guide to that act, which can be found by clicking on the link below.
Please click here to view the Guide to the Illinois Open Meetings Act as prepared by the Illinois Attorney General.
Freedom Of Information Act
It is the public policy of this State that public bodies exist to aid in the conduct of the people's business and that the people have a right to be informed as to the conduct of their business.
– Illinois Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120/1
Pursuant to the fundamental philosophy of the American constitutional form of government, it is declared to be the public policy of the State of Illinois that all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts and policies of those who represent them as public officials and public employees consistent with the terms of this Act. Such access is necessary to enable the people to fulfill their duties of discussing public issues fully and freely, making informed political judgments and monitoring government to ensure that it is being conducted in the public interest.
– Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140/1
Requests made under the Freedom of Information Act regarding Belvidere Community Unit School District 100 should be directed to the following Freedom of Information Officer:
Jeanine Hadley
jhadley@district100.com
Belvidere School District 100
1201 Fifth Avenue
Belvidere, Illinois 61008
Frequently Asked Questions
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is designed to ensure that the public has access to information about their government and its decision-making process. As a public servant, we have a duty to ensure that Illinois residents can obtain information about their government.
In 2009, Attorney General Lisa Madigan worked with legislators and a diverse group of individuals and organizations to strengthen FOIA and hold government more accountable. Beginning on January 1, 2010, key changes to the Freedom of Information Act and the Open Meetings Act took effect and in turn provide Illinois residents with a more open and accountable government.
What is 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 that the public has a right to know what the government is doing. 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 (for example: records containing information concerning trade secrets or personal privacy).
Who is subject to FOIA?
Public bodies are subject to FOIA. The judiciary is not subject to FOIA, but court records and proceedings generally are open to the public.
Who can file a FOIA request?
Anyone. Any person, group, association, corporation, firm, partnership or organization has the right to file a FOIA request to any state or local public body, including any city, township or county office.
Responding to FOIA Requests
How many days does the public body have to respond to a FOIA request?
Five business days from the day that the public body receives the request. However, that time period may be extended for an additional 5 business days from the date of the original due date if:
The requested information is stored at a different location;
The request requires the collection of a substantial number of documents;
The request requires an extensive search;
The requested records have not been located and require additional effort to find;
The requested records need to be reviewed by staff who can determine whether they are exempt from FOIA;
The requested records cannot be produced without unduly burdening the public body or interfering with its operations; or
The request requires the public body to consult with another public body that has substantial interest in the subject matter of the request.
If additional time is needed, the public body must notify the requestor in writing within 5 business days after the receipt of the request of the statutory reasons for the extension and when the requested information will be produced.
What is a "business day" or "working day"?
A "business day" or "working day" is a regular day of the week (Monday through Friday) when public offices and most businesses are open. Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays are not business days and cannot be counted in the 5 business day time period.
Information on how to submit a FOIA request:
Include contact information on your request.
Request must be made in writing but can be sent electronically to either the FOIA officer's email address or via US mail or hand delivered to the Belvidere School District Central Office at 1201 5th Avenue, Belvidere, Illinois, 61008.
For more information:
Illinois Attorney General's Office
www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov
Disclaimer and Use Policy
Introduction
The Belvidere Community Unit School District Web Sites are provided as a community service by the Belvidere Community Unit School District to enhance the educational process and promote the educational mission of the District. District Web Sites are intended for educational, informational and administrative purposes only. Your use of a District Web Site is subject to the conditions and qualifications described below. By using this Belvidere Community Unit School District Web Site, you agree to accept such conditions and qualifications.
No Warranties
Every reasonable effort has been made to insure the accuracy and currency of information provided on Belvidere Community Unit School District Web Sites; however the Belvidere Community Unit School District does not assume any liability arising from the use of information contained on a District Web Site. Said information is provided without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, accuracy, currency, reliability, omissions, completeness or availability. The Belvidere Community Unit School District shall not be liable for any claim for damages, including lost profits, consequential or punitive damages, exemplary, incidental, indirect or special damages, relating in any way to the documents, content, files or other data accessible on or through District Web Sites, including, but not limited to, claims arising out of or related to electronic access or the transmission of data. The Belvidere Community Unit School District accepts no responsibility arising as a result of absence or failure of any security mechanism. The content of District Web Sites is subject to change without notice. Before acting on any matter, you are advised to contact the District to verify any online information provided.
Links to Other Sites
The Belvidere Community Unit School District makes every reasonable effort to ensure that all links to external online content such as web sites are educationally sound and appropriate. However, the appearance of hyperlinks or other redirects pointing to external online content indicates such content is not under the control of the District, and the District is not responsible for and cannot guarantee the contents of any external site or any link contained in an external site, or any changes or updates to external sites. External online content is defined herein as any Uniform Resource Locator (URL) whose Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) does not end in “district100.com”. The District disclaims all responsibility arising from any user’s direct or indirect accessibility to Internet sites that are not suited for minors. The District provides hyperlinks to external sites only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any external link on a District web page does not constitute or imply endorsement of the site by the District nor suggest an affiliation of any kind. It is important for users to take necessary precautions, especially to ensure appropriate safety from viruses, worms, Trojan horses and other potentially destructive malware. When visiting external Web sites, users should review those Websites' privacy policies and other terms of use to learn more about, what, why and how they collect and use any personally identifiable information.
Copyright Notice & No Commercial Use
All documents available from Belvidere Community Unit School District Web Sites may be protected under U.S. and Foreign Copyright Laws. Permission to reproduce may be required. Belvidere Community Unit School District retains all rights to the information presented, including, but not limited to, the right of distribution. Belvidere Community Unit School District Web Sites and online content are intended only for the individual, non-commercial use of its users. No user of a District Web Site may resell, republish, print, download or copy any portion of a District Web Site or its contents for commercial use without the prior written consent of the Belvidere Community School District. An exception is made for reasonable copying or printing of online content for individual, non-commercial use.
No Legal or Other Notice
Communications to the Belvidere Community Unit School District via a District Web Site or by any other electronic means shall in no way be deemed to constitute legal or official notice to the Belvidere Community Unit School District, its agencies, departments, boards, commissions, officers, employees, representatives or agents with respect to any existing, pending or future claim or cause of action against the Belvidere Community Unit School District or any of its agencies, departments, boards, commissions, officers, employees, representatives or agents where notice is required by federal, state or local law. No communications to the Belvidere Community Unit School District via a District Web Site or by any other electronic means shall be deemed to constitute legal or official notice for any purpose.
Site Security Notice
For security purposes and to ensure that online services remain available to all users, Belvidere Community Unit School District employs software programs and hardware solutions to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, deny service, otherwise cause damage, or access non-public information. Unauthorized attempts to upload, download or change information are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and the National Infrastructure Protection Act of 1993. Information regarding possible violations of law may be provided to law enforcement officials.
Closed Forum
Belvidere Community Unit School District Web sites are a District publication. They are, and are intended to be a closed forum. The Belvidere Community Unit School District maintains full authority to regulate and limit access and content in keeping with its educational purpose. Students and teachers and other unauthorized District employees may not post items on any District web site. The District does not authorize access for teachers and students to post items or publish content. Likewise, the general public may not post items or publish content on Belvidere Community Unit School District 100 web sites. Items pertaining to courses, school or District functions, or related activities may be submitted to the designated administrator who will determine whether and in what format to include such items on a District web site, according to adopted standards.