Internal investigation underway at Grand Forks Public Schools, but few details known

Apr. 19—GRAND FORKS — An internal investigation involving a Grand Forks Public Schools employee is underway, but few details are known.

On Friday, the district declined a Herald open records request, citing North Dakota Century Code statutes that relate to the administrative investigations in school districts and public entities' internal investigations.

The Herald made its records requests on Monday and Tuesday in response to unconfirmed reports regarding the possible departure of a high-level district employee.

The school district did not release any records in response to the Herald's request, noting "a few records are confidential under North Dakota Century Code 44-04-18.1(6) and 15.1-07-25(2) and will not be released."

NDCC 44-04-18.1(6) states "Records relating to a public entity's internal investigation of a complaint against a public entity or employee for misconduct are exempt until the investigation of the complaint is complete."

NDCC 15.1-07-25(2) states "If a complaint is filed concerning a school district employee and an administrative investigation is conducted, any record or document generated as part of the administrative investigation is confidential ... until the investigation is completed."

Melissa Bakke, the district's communications marketing manager, said Friday that "the district does not comment on personnel matters."

District open records officer Cindy Johnson told the Herald she could not provide further information on why the documents were not released or any internal investigation due to their confidential status.

A broader request for correspondence between several members of the administrative staff was not immediately fulfilled due to the breadth of correspondence it would have generated; the Herald subsequently retracted the request.