July 13, 2020

VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL, scotttaylor@sbgtv.com

Mr. Scott Taylor
Investigative Reporter
ABC7/WJLA-TV & WJLA 24/7 News
1100 Wilson Blvd., 6th Floor
Arlington, VA 22209

Re: Freedom of Information Act Request regarding March 24, 2020 School From Home
zoom meeting
Our File No.: 20-99-0041

Dear Mr. Taylor:

This letter is written in response to your request under the Freedom of Information Act for
the following:

Any and all PGCPS District and Board of Education documents in regards to a
March 24th, 2020 zoom meeting called School From Home hosted by Bryan
Swann. Please forward a copy of:

1. Any District/Board’s data, information, past schedule, or video

recording of zoom meetings held on its zoom account for March 24th,
2020.

Response: The Board Office has a Zoom account for general Board
meetings. There was a District 4 check in meeting scheduled on the
Board office account, but no recording of that meeting occurred.
Board members have Zoom accounts (either personal accounts or via
PGCPS) to which the Board Office and PGCPS IT Department do not
have access.

In addition, the PGCPS Zoom business account was opened on/about

March 31, 2020 and didn't fully transition all district users to the
account until April 8, 2020. As a result, there is no record of school
system zoom usage on March 24, 2020.

2. Any document showing the use of or payment to the District/Board’s

interpreter or any other employee for any zoom meeting on March 24,
2020.

Response: I have attached a photo of calendar invites regarding this

request. Upon review with the Office of Interpreting and Translation
Prince George's County Public Schools | Office of General Counsel | Demetria T. Tobias, Esquire | Direct: 301-952-6242
14201 SCHOOL LANE, UPPER MARLBORO, MD 20772 Website: www.PGCPS.org Follow Us: @PGCPS, Facebook, YouTube
Mr. Scott Taylor
Investigative Reporter
ABC7/WJLA-TV & WJLA 24/7 News
July 13, 2020
Page |2

(OIT), two written translations (Spanish & French) were requested in

advance of the March 24th town hall and one translation (Spanish &
French) was requested as a follow-up to the event.

In addition, OIT participated on a Zoom test with Board Member

Swann on the morning of March 24th, and provided simultaneous
interpreting services on a conference phone line during the town hall.
The interpreting services were provided by the OIT Program
Coordinator, Sandra Acevedo, and Dr. Jennifer Love, OIT Supervisor,
Language Access & Engagement, who are both salaried PGCPS
employees.

3. Any document showing the access of the Board’s email list service
during the month of March, 2020.

Response: Upon review with the Board Office, I have enclosed copies
of the following announcements were provided via Gov Delivery
during March 2020:

March 5 - ETA lota Sigma 23rd Annual Youth Symposium - Edward

Burroughs;

March 6 - District 4 Town Hall Meetings March 21, 2020 (Bladensburg

HS and Kenmoor MS);

March 11 - EVENT POSTPONED: #GirlDad Dance 2020

Announcement;

March 11 - EVENT POSTPONED: District 7 Education Roundtable;

March 11 - Once Upon a Gown and Suit Suite;

March 12 - IMPACT Your Acceptance Program;

March 13 - CANCELLED Board Member Sonya Williams' Monthly

Coffee;

March 17 - Statement from Board Member K. Alexander Wallace on

COVID-19 Supports;

March 18 - Important Update from your District 6 Board Member

Belinda Queen;
Mr. Scott Taylor
Investigative Reporter
ABC7/WJLA-TV & WJLA 24/7 News
July 13, 2020
Page |3

March 18 – Important Updates Regarding Food Sites During COVID-19

and the Cancellation of the BOE Meeting Scheduled for March 19,
2020;

March 20 - March 21 Town Hall Meetings Postponed;

March 23 - Board of Education Member Bryan Swann LIVE School at

Home; and

March 25 - Recap of Swann Live - School to Home Webinar.

4. Any and all email exchanged to/from Bryan Swann and Alvin Thorton
[sic] in March, 2020.

Response: I have enclosed a copy of responsive emails for your

review. Please be advised that we have withheld the following:

 Emails from the Board Chair to the Director of Internal Audit,

copying Board of Education members, which discusses (1) the
results of an internal audit investigation of a high school
football coach's handling of collected funds (March 24, 2020);
and (2) the results of an internal audit investigation re: Gwynn
Park High School Facility Use (March 12, 2020).

The information in these emails relate to a personnel

investigation and is exempt from disclosure under General
Provisions Article § 4-311.

 March 6, 2020 email from the Board Chair to Board Counsel,

Roger Thomas, Esq., copying Board of Education members and
addressing a state board appeal discussed by Board members
in closed session. This attorney-client communication is
“privileged or confidential by law” per General Provisions
Article § 4-301(1).

 March 29, 2020 email from the Board Chair to the CEO, copying
Board members, regarding the death of an Executive
Leadership Team member’s relative. The information in this
email relates to a personnel matter and is exempt from
Mr. Scott Taylor
Investigative Reporter
ABC7/WJLA-TV & WJLA 24/7 News
July 13, 2020
Page |4

disclosure under General Provisions Article § 4-311.

 March 4, 2020 email from Mr. Swann, copying Board members,

regarding personnel issues and whistleblower-related
complaints at William Hall Academy; and the identity of a staff
member writing to Mr. Swann regarding the economic
hardship he will face if school buildings are closed. The
information in these emails relate to a personnel matter and is
exempt from disclosure under General Provisions Article § 4-
311.

 The identity of a student in an email from the Board Chair,

copying Board members, regarding the request for
accommodations for Muslim students during Ramadan; and
the identity of parents in an email from the Board Chair,
copying Board members, regarding the attendance policy and
school closure-related items. This personally identifiable
information is withheld as part of an education record that is
exempt from disclosure under General Provisions Article § 4-
313.

You are entitled to judicial review of these denials pursuant to

Maryland Code, General Provisions Article section 4-362 and
administrative review pursuant to General Provisions Article
section 4-1b-01 et seq.

If you have further questions regarding this response, please contact this office.

Very truly yours,

Demetria T. Tobias
General Counsel

DTT/khr

cc: Dr. Alvin Thornton

Mr. Bryan Swann
Mr. Scott Taylor
Investigative Reporter
ABC7/WJLA-TV & WJLA 24/7 News
July 13, 2020
Page |5

Dr. Monica Goldson

Mr. Christian Rhodes
Ms. Raven Hill
Ms. Suzann King