To the editor:

On June 8, the Columbus Dispatch published a column by Denis Smith, a former consultant in the Ohio Department of Education's charter school office, about the Ohio Public Records Law and a May 2 request sent to two charter school sponsors by Ohio E&A and the state education agency for records pertaining to the Gulen charter school chain operating in Ohio. 

After five weeks, there has been no response from ODE and one of the sponsors, the ESC of Lake Erie West. 

The second sponsor, the Buckeye Community Hope Foundation, did reply on June 4 and said that it is "not a public entity subject to public records requests."

The state education agency of the State of Ohio ignores a request for public records dealing with publicly funded schools. 

A public school entity, an educational service center, ignores a request for public records dealing with publicly funded schools. 

A charter school sponsor, who receives millions in public funds, says it is a private, not public entity and does not have to comply with a public records request. 

All three were asked about information regarding the operation of 17 schools funded by the public.

What is wrong with this picture?

(• Note: Since the publication of the article, ESC of Lake Erie West submitted the information requested.)

Sincerely,
William L. Phillis
Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy of School Funding
www.ohiocoalition.org