Columbia, SC - Taxpayers and citizens across South Carolina won a big victory this week when Dorchester County School District Two reversed course and provided SCRG with public information requested pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This decision brought a quick end to the lawsuit SCRG was forced to file against the District for its refusal to comply with its obligation to make public information available.

SCRG President Randy Page was ecstatic regarding the development, saying, "We were in this for the long haul, but thankfully the District reconsidered its decision to deny access to public records and provided the requested information at a reasonable cost. While it is unfortunate that we were forced to file a lawsuit to obtain this result and gain access to public information in which we are entitled, this action saves taxpayer money from being spent on unnecessary legal fees and sends a clear message to school districts and other public bodies that they are not above the law."

"Governmental bodies are here to serve the people and should be as transparent as possible. Somewhere along the way Dorchester Two apparently forgot that notion, but I'm glad they have seen the light," Page said in defending his organization's filing of the lawsuit. "We will happily pay the amount agreed upon, just as we have to other districts. This was not about the money and not about ideology, but about the principles of open and accountable government and the public's right to have access to public information."

Concluding, Page stated, "In conjunction with the State Department of Education, school districts spend over $6 billion of our tax dollars annually. When they obstruct legitimate efforts to obtain public information, it creates the appearance that these agencies are engaged in a concerted effort to impede the public's right to examine government's
conduct. This must change, or the credibility of government - and school districts in particular - will continue to suffer. As an organization dedicated to ensuring more efficient and effective government, SCRG will continue to use FOIA requests in an equitable and consistent manner so that all public bodies will be more transparent, accessible and cooperative with the public."

SCRG agreed to pay $50 for the requested information, which included the Dorchester Two superintendent's salary and compensation package, construction costs in the District for the past 5 years, and a listing of the primary contractors working on those construction projects for the District.