A public records request submitted to the New Hanover County
Public Schools remains incomplete after 6 months. The school system’s attorney, Wayne Bullard, whose
email is now at the center of the controversy, is also in charge of completing
the associated public records request.
A public records request was submitted by Dejeweski
Landscaping September 11, 2014 after concerns arose regarding bidding
irregularities for a contract with New Hanover County Schools. When partial
information was released, an email from New Hanover County Schools General Counsel
Wayne Bullard was discovered that confirmed Dejewski’s concerns had merit. The
email from Bullard revealed part of the contracts specification was waived for
the other bidder and that bidder was then awarded the contract.
Dejewski’s public records request, which was very specific
in nature, has remained unfinished. At a special New Hanover County School meeting on January 20th,
2015, Bullard was again asked when the public records request would be
complete. Bullard’s response was “Within a reasonable time.”
North Carolina General Statute 132 requires government
entities to provide copies of public records “as promptly as possible,” but
stops short of giving a specific time frame for completion. Without a court order compelling Bullard to complete the public records request, Bullard can
withhold the balance of related documents indefinitely.
