Politics & Government

WED Agrees to Settle Public Records Lawsuit

Education Department will pay $1,000 fine for violating APRA.

Attorney General Peter Kilmartin's office announced yesterday the Woonsocket Superintendent’s Office has agreed to pay a $1,000 fine for violating the state’s Access to Public Records Act (APRA).

The AG filed suit against the Superintendent's office Oct. 30 after determining the violation was a willful act on the part of the office. 

The violation occurred when Superintendent Giovanna Donoyan's office failed to respond to a Dec. 1, 2012 request from Cynthia Boss for documents pertaining to the Woonsocket School Sick Leave Pool Board of Governors, according to a release from the AG's office. The office ultimately missed the deadline, then an 20 business day extension, by 51 days.

Donoyan's office finally released the documents in response to the Attorney General's investigation of Boss's APRA complaint.

"I am pleased that the R.I. Attorney General has ruled in my favor in support of open government, and that the Woonsocket Superintendent's office has acknowledged that they violated the law, said Boss when asked for comment on the ruling and the fine. "I believe this decision will be the first step in correcting a series of wrongful actions that were taken against me by the Woonsocket Education Department after I spoke out for the rights of my students with special needs."    

Boss declined to elaborate on the wrongs she referenced. 


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