▸ The Official Record
Pennsylvania Office of Open Records
AP 2026-1329
Requester
v.
OCTORARA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Respondent
✓ FINAL DETERMINATION ISSUED AND MAILED: June 26, 2026
✓ Senior Appeals Officer: Blake Eilers, Esq.
✓ District’s submission on appeal: None.
▸ Quest Completed — Steps Navigated
- ✓Filed Right-to-Know Requests — March 3, 2026
- ✓Survived 30-day agency extension without complaining publicly
- ✓Received denial. Filed appeal — April 3, 2026
- ✓Submitted position statements — April 17 & 20, 2026
- ✓Agreed to extension of Final Determination due date
- ✓Responded to OOR’s request for clarification — June 9, 2026
- ✓Waited patiently while the agency submitted nothing on appeal
- ✓Received Final Determination — Appeal granted in part
▸ Rewards Earned
Good Faith Search Ordered
The District is now required to actually look for the records. Novel concept. Thirty days on the clock.
Privilege Claims Require Evidence
“Conclusory statements” insufficient. The OOR said so in writing. Citing actual case law.
Probable Cause Affidavit Search Ordered
District must search for and produce any sworn affidavit provided to PSP in connection with the trespass. Or swear under oath that it doesn’t exist.
Falgiatore Objection Now OOR Record
Director Falgiatore’s documented objections to taxpayer-funded legal expenses are now referenced in a Pennsylvania state administrative ruling.
Insurer Communications Ordered
AIG. Carlton Fields. Saxton Stump. The District’s position was that its errors-and-omissions insurer would fund private-capacity legal defense for individuals named personally in an outside civil matter. Produce the communications or prove privilege — with evidence this time.
Sworn Affidavit of Non-Existence
If records don’t exist the District must say so under oath. A sworn denial is almost as useful as the records themselves. Almost.
▸ Experience Gained
Current Level
🟩 CITIZEN ARCHIVIST
“The record does not always tell the whole story. But it usually tells more than the summary.”
Next Level: Primary Source Evangelist
Unlock condition: Sworn affidavit of non-existence received, or records produced. Either serves the archive.
The compliance deadline this achievement set in motion has since passed.
▸ CONTINUE TO ACHIEVEMENT #002AProgress may be delayed by weekends, holidays, extensions, appeals, missing attachments,
or acts of bureaucracy.
Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law · 65 P.S. §§ 67.101 et seq.
Pennsylvania Office of Open Records · AP 2026-1329
Administrative Literacy Series · Achievement #002 · CulturalContrarianPMA.org