Restoration News Sues Virginia School Board Member Refusing to Comply with FOIA
Restoration News is holding public officials accountable for their lack of transparency.
Essex County, Virginia School Board member Garlyn Bundy refused to turn over school board related emails sent from her private account. Restoration News believes that this violates the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has sued to force Bundy to comply with the law.
Garlyn Bundy was just reelected to another term on the Essex County School Board despite being steeped in controversy. Restoration News previously reported that Bundy is being sued by the current district assistant superintendent, Doranda Scott, for allegations of false statements Bundy made against Scott in a public board meeting.
Earlier this year, the former Essex superintendent was put on administrative leave, and the accounting director was fired. The Virginia State Police have confirmed an ongoing investigation into the district. Garlyn Bundy stepped down from her role as chairman of the board amidst allegations of financial mismanagement in the school division.
During the public meeting in which Bundy was scheduled to step down as chair, she read a typed prepared statement. Doranda Scott claims that in that statement Bundy made false and harmful claims about her. A digital footprint indicates that Bundy’s statement was authored by a man named Gene Quarles. Restoration News filed a FOIA request for all emails between Bundy and Quarles related to the letter, but Bundy did not provide that information. Quarles was previously banned from school property due to alleged aggressive behavior toward school staff.
Bundy's attorney told Restoration News in an email that the documents we requested are not required to be disclosed because they were not in the possession of the "public body"—referencing the School Board.
Restoration News contends that FOIA law requires any communication "in the transaction of public business" that is "prepared or owned by, or in the possession of a public body or its officers" to be disclosed.
Believing that Garlyn Bundy has withheld documents in violation of the Freedom of Information Act, Restoration News has filed a lawsuit. Now the courts will decide if Bundy broke the law. A hearing is scheduled for Dec. 5th.
(READ MORE: Virginia Democrats File Legislation to Repeal Right to Work Laws)
