I replied to Minneapolis Public Schools General Council Jamie Jonassen;s message late in the day of Wednesday, 28 October 2026, as follows:
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October 29, 2026
Jamie---
I again
appreciate your taking the time to send me a note regarding my communications
pertinent to Data Request #26-511.
I shall
respond to the matter of my wishes as to disposition of that request in
two ways, the first the simple and fundamental reply, the second longer and
contextualized.
First,
then, as to disposition of Data Request #26-511, my fundamental response
is
>>>>>
Provide the information immediately, without cost, giving a
complete Davis Center staff list by position and salary.
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Second, I
find notable that only in the deceptive and lackluster Sayles-Adams
administration has policy changed so as to charge for all data requests.
I have
been aware that charges apply to some requests, but my own requests have
generally been those for which highly specific, readily information
pertains; or that the district should be eager to provide for the
public. I have never paid for a data request and as a matter or principle
(though the cost is clearly not prohibitive) would never issue such a payment.
Here I
make two observations >>>>>
>>>>>
As a serious scholar, I have conducted abundant research over the years
using government documents at no cost. For example, for my 500-page
dissertation, Agricultural Development and the Fate of Farmers in
Taiwan: 1945-1990, I requested reams of documents from the central
and local governments in Taiwan, with replies that were courteous and honored
for my interest and providing information requested--- and often
additional documents not requested.
Very
similarly, my two books written for the Minneapolis Urban League (the 2004 and
2008 editions of The State of African Americans in Minnesota), i
requested and received many hefty documents from a bevy of Minnesota municipal
and state agencies (e.g., Education, Health, Human Rights, Human Services,
Corrections, Employment and Economic Development) without cost and, as in the
case of Taiwan, with appreciation for my interest and alacrity in response.
Conscientious
government officials serve the public gratis and graciously.
>>>>>
The City of Minneapolis waives fees for data requests for which costs
would be under $30; Hennepin County does so for requests for which costs
would be under $50.
I
strongly suggest that the Minneapolis Public Schools refine the policy that you
mention as begun in June 2026 to follow a similar approach as to those
pertaining at the given municipal and county levels.
This
would resolve the current issue regarding my MPS Data Request #26-511.
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Given the
courtesy of your communication that induces this reply of mine, I will wait and
observe during the day of Thursday, 29 October 2026, if Data Requests provides
the information without cost pertinent to my Request #26-511. If not, I
will then go forth to discuss the issue on my many platforms mentioned in
earlier communication.
Henceforth you
should address me preferably as "Gary" or, if you do use a
formal title, that title should be "Dr." rather than "Mr."
With best
regards-----
Gary
Gary
Marvin Davison, Ph.D.
Director,
New Salem Educational Initiative
http://www.newsalemeducation.blogspot.com
Author,
Understanding
the Minneapolis Public
Schools: Current Condition, Future Prospect (New
Salem Educational Initiative, second edition, 2024
Foundations
of an Excellent Liberal Arts Education (New Salem Educational Initiative,
2022
A Concise
History of African America (Seaburn, 2004)
The State
of African Americans in Minnesota 2004 (Minneapolis
Urban League, 2008)
The State
of African Americans in Minnesota 2008 (Minneapolis Urban League,
2004)
Tales
from the Taiwanese (Libraries Unlimited, 2004)
A Short
History of Taiwan: The Case for Independence (Praeger,
2003)
Culture
and Customs of Taiwan ([with Barbara E. Reed]
(Greenwood, 1998)
Agricultural
Development and the Fate of Farmers in Taiwan, 1945-1990 (Minneapolis,
Minnesota: Ph. D. Dissertation, University of Minnesota, 1993)
A World
History: Links Across Time and Place ([with
six other authors] (McDougal Littell, 1988)
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Jamie Jonassen’s reply was as follows:
Good morning, Dr. Davison -
Thank you
for sharing your experiences and perspective. The District's current
practice is to charge the actual costs to fulfill any data request that will
require more than five minutes of staff time, to the extent permitted by
statute.
As part
of our commitment to continuous improvement, we will carefully consider your
recommendations. At this time, however, we are not making any changes to
our current practice.
Thank
you,
Jamie
Jonassen | General Counsel | (she/her/hers)
Minneapolis
Public Schools | Office of the General Counsel
John B.
Davis Education Service Center | 1250 W Broadway,
Minneapolis, MN 55411
jamie.jonassen@mpls.k12.mn.us | mpschools.org
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