Director denies appeal for investigative interview notes, finds documentation properly private

Appellant Ms. Coomer urged release of a May 6 investigator note and a compiled interview matrix, arguing the district relied on those materials, documented misuse of school funds, and substantiated corrective actions. She asked the director to perform in‑camera review and to segregate and release any public, non‑private portions. "The district now calls it a personal memory aid, but mister Peterson later wrote that he did not question the account we provided on May 6," Ms. Coomer said, arguing the note was used in the investigation.

Counsel for the district, Heidi Alder, said the investigator's working notes, draft materials and interview notes were maintained as investigator memory aids and were not part of the final investigatory file; she said the final investigative report was released and that some withheld communications were attorney‑client privileged. After reviewing in‑camera materials, Director Pearson found the interview notes, summaries and investigative compilations properly classified as private employee records under GRAMA and that the withheld communications were privileged; he denied the appeal and will issue a written decision within seven business days.