Freedom Information Act

Written Public Summary

Creative Technologies Academy and Michigan's Freedom of Information Act. As a public institution in the State of Michigan, Creative Technologies Academy is subject to provisions of the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Under the FOIA, "All persons, except those persons incarcerated in state or local correctional facilities, are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those who represent them as public officials and public employees...." Consequently, any individual other than a federal, state, or county prisoner has the right to inspect and/or receive copies of public records maintained by the District.

FOIA Coordinator

Jeffrey Lodholtz

350 Pine Street

Cedar Springs MI 

616-696-4905

How to file a FOIA request

Written FOIA requests should be sent to the attention of Director of Finance/Human Resources Jeffrey Lodholtz,  Creative Technologies Academy School District, 350 Pine Street, Cedar Springs, MI 49319. Requests can also be faxed to the office at (616) 696-4920 or emailed to jlodholtz@ctachargers.org 

• Please specify with as much detail as possible the records you wish to inspect and/or receive copies of. For example, if applicable, please include the time period involved and the department where the documents may be located, if you know it.

• Please include your mailing address and daytime phone number, as well as an email address and fax number, if applicable.

The District has five (5) business days after receiving a written request to respond. However, the response period can be extended by the FOIA Coordinator for up to an additional ten (10) business days. Day 1 of the response period is considered to be the next business day following receipt of the written request. Email is considered "received" one business day after it was sent. If, however, the request is electronically transmitted and delivered to a spam or junk mail folder, the request will be deemed received one (1) day after the District becomes aware of it.  

The District may charge a fee for the search, review, separation of exempt from non-exempt information, copying, and mailing of documents. Upon receipt of the request, a fee will be assessed, the requester will be provided a detailed itemization of fees that will list and explain the allowable charges that compose the total fee, and the District will ask whether he/she wants to proceed. In calculating the cost of labor incurred, the District will charge the hourly wage, plus fringe benefit costs, of the lowest paid employee capable of performing the task. In addition, the requester will be charged the actual cost of any non-paper physical media (e.g., computer disks, tapes, etc.) or paper requests.

 Inspecting a public record in person

 The District will provide "a reasonable opportunity for inspection and examination of its public records, and shall furnish reasonable facilities for making memoranda or abstracts from its public records during the usual business hours" (8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on business days). However, the District may make reasonable rules to protect its records and to prevent excessive and unreasonable interference with the discharge of its functions. Please note that in some instances where original documents contain exempt information, the exempt material may be removed, and copies made for inspection. Also, please note that there still may be a fee charged for the cost of searching for and reviewing the original records before the requester can examine them.

Recourse if the response is untimely, the fee is excessive, or information is denied?

If the District fails to respond to an appropriately submitted and recognizable FOIA request within the timelines explained above, the labor costs to produce the documents must be reduced by 5% for each day the response is delayed, up to 50% of the total fee.

If the requester believes that the estimated fee for producing public records exceeds the amount permitted, the requester may appeal to the Board. If the Board fails to respond timely or denies that appeal, the requester may file a lawsuit in state court for a reduction of the fee within 45 days.

If the request is denied, in whole or in part, then within 180 days of the District’s denial, the requester can either submit a written appeal to the Board or file a lawsuit in state court. The Board typically has 10 business days after receipt of an appeal to respond, but in unusual circumstances, the Board may take an additional 10 business days. Failure to respond is considered a final determination to deny a request. If the requester chooses to appeal to the Board, and the Board either denies or fails to timely respond to the appeal, the requester can still file a lawsuit in state court. The District cannot destroy a document once it has been requested. If the FOIA Officer denies the request, the document must be retained for at least 180 days from the date of the denial letter.