Brookline School District’s Public Records Controversy

Brookline, September 21, 2025

News Summary

Journalist Carey Goldberg’s struggle for public documents from the Brookline school district highlights issues with transparency laws in Massachusetts. Following a controversial email from the Superintendent after the Hamas attacks, Goldberg’s records request revealed bureaucratic hurdles and evoked community support. This incident mirrors broader challenges in Massachusetts’ public records processes and has prompted calls for reform.

Brookline

Carey Goldberg, a journalist, spent more than a year and a half pursuing public records from the Brookline school district after a controversial set of communications from Brookline public schools Superintendent Linus J. Guillory Jr. caused community concern following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. Goldberg’s request, filed on October 16, 2023, took over 18 months to fulfill, still lacking a central document upon conclusion. The case illustrates limits in Massachusetts transparency law, the costs and delays requesters can face, and active efforts at state-level reform.

Key developments

The experience was prompted by a controversial communication from Brookline public schools Superintendent Linus J. Guillory Jr. after the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. The initial district-wide email acknowledged escalating violence but did not express sympathy for affected local families. A subsequent note to staff suggested teaching resources favoring one side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict without offering balanced perspectives. Superintendent Guillory issued a public apology two days later, acknowledging shortcomings in communication and resource choice. Many key players involved in the original controversy, including Superintendent Guillory, have since resigned or left their positions.

Records request and process

Goldberg filed a request for related emails to and from the superintendent, wanting to understand who authored the messages and the sources chosen as teaching resources. Filing a public records request in Massachusetts is straightforward but fulfilling it can involve a lengthy and expensive process. The Brookline school district ultimately did not fulfill Goldberg’s initial records request, which led her to refile in May 2024. Goldberg’s request, filed on October 16, 2023, took over 18 months to fulfill, still lacking a central document upon conclusion.

The bureaucratic process included enlisting pro bono lawyers, multiple appeals to the records supervisor, and persistent follow-up emails. Goldberg received some response after appealing to the supervisor of records and speaking at public meetings, but many emails were not provided or were heavily redacted. She sought legal assistance from the Anti-Defamation League after continuous delays and obstructions. The eventual response from the town counsel revealed 368 potentially relevant emails, costing Goldberg $926.25 to process. Goldberg launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover the costs, receiving widespread support from the community in just hours.

What the released records showed

The received emails indicated that two senior district staff members contributed to the drafting of the superintendent’s messages. No significant issues were found in the emails, raising questions about why the process was so elaborate. The overall record set remained incomplete for Goldberg’s original request, and the town did not provide a single central document she had sought.

Law and enforcement context

Massachusetts public records law presumes that all government records are public unless a specific exemption applies. Massachusetts is noted for having weak public records laws, lacking effective enforcement mechanisms for non-compliance. The state law prohibits sanctions for officials who fail to comply with requests, leaving citizens with litigation as the only recourse. More than 6,700 records requests were filed with the City of Boston in 2023, demonstrating high public engagement with transparency despite systemic barriers.

Reform proposals and political response

Massachusetts State Representative Antonio Cabral is actively proposing reforms to improve public records accessibility. He suggests establishing a quasi-public agency to handle requests and enhance citizen interaction with public records. Both advocates and officials acknowledge a cultural resistance to transparency in Massachusetts. The ordeal highlighted the need for patience and persistence when dealing with public records requests. Citizens are encouraged to file public records requests despite the challenges involved, with various tips provided for potential requesters.

Practical takeaways

• Expect delays and possible redactions even when filing straightforward requests.
• Prepare for potential fees; in this case the cost to process records was $926.25.
• Consider legal assistance or appeals to the supervisor of records when documents are withheld or heavily redacted.
• Public engagement and community support can offset costs and apply pressure for disclosure.

Background

The episode follows a pattern critics describe across Massachusetts public agencies: routine provision of some records, coupled with lengthy processes, high fees, and limited effective penalties when officials withhold information. The Brookline case adds a high-profile local example showing how a single school district controversy can escalate into statewide debate about access to government-held information.

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Useful information and timeline

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Additional Resources

• Boston Globe: Public Records Law in Massachusetts
• Mass Lawyers Weekly: State Police Records Requests Response
• Boston Herald: Auditor’s Controversial Access Charges
• New Boston Post: Public Records Proposal in Massachusetts
• Rhode Island Current: Officer Privacy vs. Public Records Rights
• Wikipedia: Freedom of Information
• Google Search: Public Records Law Massachusetts
• Google Scholar: Massachusetts Public Records
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Freedom of Information
• Google News: Massachusetts Public Records Law

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