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As required by state law, the Gorham School District provides certain documents, upon requests, to the public. As part of our efforts to operate with transparency and engage the community, we welcome the opportunity to be accountable to our citizens. We embrace our obligations under state public records laws.
In keeping with state law, we have a formal process to handle such requests. More information about this process can be found below.
It is important to note that, considering the importance of meeting state requirements and in keeping with our commitment to transparency, much time and effort goes into providing these documents. While we work diligently to provide transparency, there may be times of high volume or circumstances surrounding staffing capacity that may delay the timeliness of requests. As a result, we cannot reply to your request as quickly as we may like. We apologize for this.
As noted, we take our responsibility to provide transparency to the public very seriously and we welcome the opportunity to share information. Please know that you are always welcome to attend school boards meetings, held monthly. The board’s agendas, minutes and other information is posted on our website, at www.gorhamschools.org or you can CLICK HERE to view.
Overview of F.O.A.A. Request Process
As public school districts, we understand the commitment we have to ensure we provide community members with transparency. We embrace the opportunity to engage community members in the work of our schools and districts. Central to our work is the sharing of public records, otherwise known as F.O.A.A. or the Freedom Of Access Act.
You can CLICK HERE to view more detailed information on how this works in Maine but a general summary of the process used by the Gorham School Department is outlined below:
Step 1: Communicate your request. This can be done in writing or via phone and then transcribed into a written document by our designated public access officer. You can reach them by phone at 222-1012 or via email at [email protected].
When communicating your request it is important to be as clear and concise as possible regarding the specific information you would like to see.
Step 2: The School Department will acknowledge receipt of the request within 5 days.
Step 3: The School Department may reach out with clarifying questions to better understand the request before fully processing.
Step 4: The School Department will communicate a sense of how long it will take to complete the request and let the individual making the request know if there may be any fees associated with the request. By law, the school may charge reasonable fees to cover the costs of copying and/or may charge $25.00/hour after the first two hours for time spent searching for, retrieving, compiling, or redacting confidential information from the requested records. If the cost is more than $30.00 the School Department will notify the individual making the request. If the cost is more than $100.00 the School Department may require payment in full for services prior to completing the request.
Step 5: Once the request is completed, the School Department will notify the individual that the information is ready to be reviewed.
Step 6: Once the information is shared, it becomes public information and will be posted below online so that others may also view the information requested.
Public Records Posting - View History of Filled F.O.A.A. Requests Below
Recently, the Gorham School Department has been inundated with public records requests. Searching for and assembling records in accordance with state law is very time intensive and expensive for the school district.
In the name of transparency and the hope that this effort can reduce the number of public records requests pertaining to the same matters, we have decided to make public all record requests, along with the corresponding records that were shared with the individual or groups making the requests.
As noted, we take our responsibility to provide transparency to the public very seriously, and we welcome the opportunity to share information. Please know that you are always welcome to attend our school boards meetings, held monthly. The board’s agendas, minutes, and other information is posted on our website, at www.gorhamschools.org or may be viewed by CLICKING HERE.
Heather J. Perry, Ph.D.
Link To Records Requested
6th Gr. Health materials and curriculum related to sex, sexuality, sexual orientation, gender, diversity & inclusion as well as content related to racism, bias/anti-bias, skin color & race (include presentations, assignments and assessments.
Information on IDI Survey and Learning Module #1 materials being used with Anti-Racism & Equity Committee.
Class materials/curriculum as related to sex, sexuality, sexual orientation, gender, diversity, and inclusion including content related to racism, bias, skin color/race for 6th grade health class from 8/30/21 - 9/30/21 to include presentations assignments and assessments.
Gr. 6-8 from 8/30/21 to 10/7/21 class materials/curriculum related to sex, sexuality, sexual orientation, gender, diversity & inclusion, content related to racism, bias, skin color to include presentations assignments and assessments
All 2021 gr. 6,7,8 student and staff recommended, suggested and mandatory books & literature as well as training materials as related to sex, sexuality, sexual orientation, gender, diversity and inclusion, content related to racism, bias, skin color and race.
All 7th & 8th grade class materials & curriculum between 8/30/21 - 10/14/21 as relates to sex, sexuality, sexual orientation, gender, diversity, inclusion, include content as relates to racism, bias/anti-bias, skin color/race to include presentations, assignments and assessments
Village School's Mrs. Meggison 20-21 class materials & curriculum as related to sex, sexuality, sexual orientation, gender, diversity, inclusion, include content as relates to racism, bias/anti-bias, skin color/race.  Include presentations, assignments and assessments
GMS reference material regarding Maine State statute governing the use of bathrooms and locker rooms regarding sex/gender.
List of full time employees (first, last, middle), position, campus/office location, date of hire, email address
All purchasing records 1/1/15 - current.  Include purchase order number, purchase date, line item details, line item quantity, line item price, vendor number, name, address, contact person and email address.
Communications regarding the Citizen's Challenge of Educational Material that was submitted on 4/10/22.  Includes any related communications to or from the School Committee.
Expense records and commitments regarding agreements and contracts only for service, consultants, training materials for anti-racism, microagression, bias & related anti-bullying training and curriculum for GMS & GHS staff and students for 2019 to date.
Expense records and commitments regarding agreements and contracts ONLY for service, consultants, training and materials for gender theory topics and related anti bullying training and/or curriculum for school staff and students 2019 to present.
4th grade class materials & curriculum as it relates to human bodies, LGBTQAI, sex, sexuality, sexual orientation, gender, diversity & inclusion topics.  Include video, presentations, assignments and assessments.
Administrative emails from administrative staff, school committee, principals, vice principals regarding Eric Lane in any way.  Include instruction, suggestions, comments to administrative staff, school committee members, principals, vice principals actions/behavior as it relates to Eric Lane.
Emails to or from Heather Perry, Brian Porter, Rhonda Warren, School Committee Members, Principals of GHS & GMS regarding Eric Lane.  Limit to emails January 1, 2020 to present.
All communications to/from the following GSD staff as they relate in any way to me, my citizen's challenge or any aftermath of Heather Perry's infamous email sent on 4/20/22.  (Liz Henry, Lauren Roberts, Catherine Paul, Anna Sedenka, Colleen Tims, Kim Fadrigon).  Include any communications that may have been accidentally or intentionally deleted or destroyed.
Bob Lowell (American Journal)
Copies of recent resident's complaints involving Superintendent Perry relative to her April 20 email to staff members.
email thread/responses related to Heather Perry email 3/17/22.  Email responses, forwarded emails to/from Anne Schools & Heather Perry.  Email that contained assurance to Anne that we will divert and staff.
Bob Lowell (American Journal)
Copies of emails from Supt. Perry on 3/17/22 to Anne Schools and email from Brian Jandreau on 3/17/22
Bob Lowell (American Journal)
All emails relative to Eric Lane to include those from or to Supt. Perry, Brian Jandreau and other staff members.
All non-email communication to/from Heather Perry and SC members related to Eric Lane and his complaints, requests or actions.
Provide name of GMS teacher who gave this assignment (image attached) to students in 21-22.  Also provide origins of this assignment.  Who developed and sent it to GMS.
Provide communications made by Heather Perry, Quinton Donahue and/or SC members regarding instructions on depriving me of information regarding Shawn McBreairty, regarding Maine First Project, regarding Maine Source of Truth.
All purchasing records 5/19/22 - current
All communications as it pertains to his complaint against Supt. Perry on 5/19/22, including any that reference his name or this complaint
All communications as it pertains to his citizen's challenge of the book A graphic novel of the Handmaid's Tale, submitted on 5/31/22 including any that reference his name or this specific challenge
Provide communications via personal and/or public methods made by or to Brooke Proulx regarding Eric Lane, ____, or the 2022 book and/or poster complaints
Provide for inspection 7th grade health class curriculum which represents opposing viewpoints to gender theory
Provide for inspection Middle School and High School staff material which may be used as reference to intersectionality and the varying values of marginalization placed on groups or individuals.  This is to include any hierarchy information of intersectionalism.
Provide any and all documents, including but not limited to, emails, policy approval, memos, letters, etc. regarding who approved these posters for display at GMS.  Any and all correspondence via email or written letter or in any other form from any staff of Gorham schools and/or the administrative staff with OUT Maine from Jan. 1, 2019 to present.  Any and all information and documentation regarding the approval process for materials to be displayed in Gorham Schools.
Provide for inspection all communications as it pertains to the closure or moving the schools to RED during the height of the COVID 19 pandemic.  Include any communications between school committee members during the timeframe of January 2020 - December 2021.