Council asks revision commission to define "full access" to school finances and protect student data

Councilmembers expressed divergent concerns about the draft charter language that would give the city greater access to Board of Education financial records. Several members pressed for precise definitions and legal safeguards for student privacy.

Councilwoman Robinson called for a clear definition of "full access," limits on personnel who would have access, data-sharing agreements that protect student privacy (FERPA), and a reporting cadence aligned with budgeting and capital planning needs: "The intent is cooperative oversight, not control of how the Board spends money," she said, urging the commission to define cadence, personnel, and the scope of the data.

Councilman Chienese and others said that state statutes already require some financial reporting by boards of education but that those statutes have often not been enforced; they asked the commission to consider enforceable mechanisms and how to reconcile charter language with existing state law.

Corporation counsel said legal safeguards such as HIPAA and FERPA would remain applicable regardless of charter additions and recommended the commission refine language to avoid conflicts with general statutes.

Outcome: The council voted to return section 6-18 to the Commission and asked it to define precisely what "full access" entails, specify protections for student data and proprietary systems, and consider reporting cadence, teeth and enforcement mechanisms for financial disclosure.

Provenance: Discussion and vote occurred during Chapter 6 (SEG 43852DSEG 5212).