Amid allegtions and concerns from teachers, Saadi files FOI request with School Superintendent

Responding to concerns from teachers who feared retaliation from school administrators due to criticisms made towards school officials during the recent education budget debates, City Council Minority Leader Tom Saadi filed an Freedom of Information (FOI) request with School Superintendent Sal Pascarella. At issue is whether or not Pascarella requested the school's IT department to provide him any emails transmissions between teachers and Councilman Saadi.

Here's a copy of Saadi's FOI request to Pascarella.



Earlier today, I had a chance to interview Saadi and talk to him about the allegations raised in his FOI request.



UPDATE: Pascarella responds to the allegations.

Pascarella said Wednesday he had already received the letter and emphatically denies the allegations.

"I am very careful of people's rights and their ability to articulate their opinions and I respect that," he said. "That's just not the way we operate."

[…]

Pascarella said that while he can't speak for others, nobody has been asked to "investigate those in my employment for dealing with the council or making comments about the budget."

Frankly, he added, such allegations are "deplorable" and repugnant.
"That's not what I stand for," he said.

[…]

Pascarella said he will comply with the request [from Saadi].

UPDATE 2: Due to today's story, I will be providing a LIVE VIDEO STREAM of tonight's Board of Education meeting in which Pascarella might comment on the FOI request.