News

Peabody schools' e-mail to be archived as public records

By Stacie N. Galang
Staff writer
Published: February 27, 2008

PEABODY — The School Department will start archiving all e-mails — including those by teachers and other staffers — beginning March 3 as state officials warn public agencies they must store such public records.

Superintendent C. Milton Burnett told School Committee members last night of the change, saying he had circulated a memo to all staff about the change affecting the district-based email system.

"All staff is advised NOT to utilize Peabody Public Schools e-mail or Peabody Public Schools Network Systems for any correspondence relating to student or staff personnel issues, or personal items," Burnett wrote in the letter.

The announcement drew criticism by committee members concerned that information discussed about students or School Department personnel could reach public view.

Committee member David McGeney called it a "really poorly thought-out law." A lot of staff could be inadvertently "hit by the shrapnel" of disclosed e-mails, he said.

"I am so fearful of this potential problem," McGeney said.

Parents and teachers who have grown reliant on e-mails would be stymied by the communications change, a frustrated Beverley Dunne said. She said the law seemingly makes no distinction between a true public record and a personal document.

"It's absolutely counterproductive," she said. "It is really frustrating."

Mayor Michael Bonfanti encouraged the board to contact Congressman John Tierney and Sens. Edward Kennedy and John Kerry, urging them to change the federal law that forced the archive.

"Yes, it's a lengthy process, but that's the only way to get a bad law changed," he said.

Committee member Edward Charest asked that the same letter be sent out to all parents.

Burnett agreed and said the letter would also be posted at the district's Web site and run on the local access channel.

The school system's Web-based e-mail is overseen by the Merrimack Education Center, the superintendent said. The center will store and manage the district's archive.