The Community Unit School District 201 Board of Education decided it would release any personal e-mails related to a recent Freedom of Information Act request after discussing the issue at a special meeting held Thursday, June 11.

School Board President Marie Charlton said the meeting was called to discuss how it would handle a FOIA request from former board member Robert Zapinski. His request sought all board member communication, including personal e-mails regarding the subject of hiring new legal counsel, as discussed at a recent board meeting, Charleston said.

At last week’s special meeting, Tom Morris, an attorney from the law firm Hinshaw Cullbertson LLP, discussed whether board members’ personal e-mails should be subject to FOIA.

“From the most conservative viewpoint, you could say disclose everything, but there are personal privacy considerations,” Morris said. “It’s not necessarily appropriate to know what's in your personal e-mail.”

Morris said ultimately “it’s a question for the board as a whole to decide.”

After a discussion, board members agreed to look at their personal e-mail and print off anything related to board business. The e-mails will then be sent to legal counsel to determine if information should be redacted before they are released to Zapinski.

Charlton said going forward the board will develop a policy that specifically states what board communications will be considered subject to FOIA.