Super-secret superintendent contracts

Ericka Mellon:

I had a couple of interesting run-ins Tuesday when I was trying to get copies of some superintendents' contracts in light of HISD Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra's sweet deal. When I called Dallas ISD's press office and identified myself as a reporter, two different people asked why I wanted a copy of Superintendent Michael Hinojosa's contract. I told them -- because I wanted to see how Saavedra's deal compared -- but, for the record, under the Texas Public Information Act, a superintendent's contract (or any public document) is public, no matter why the requester is asking.

It's also illegal for a governmental entity to ask a person why they want a particular document (see Section 552.222). Props, though, to Dallas for sending me a link to the contract with an hour or two. And speaking of links, why don't all districts post copies of their superintendents' contracts in an easy-to-find spot on their Web sites? Anyone?

Posted by Jim Zellmer at February 12, 2009 4:11 AM
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