Volunteer State News

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Williamson Christian College regarding the admission records for the 2024-25 school year on December 12, 2024.

The request, made by Volunteer State News, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, seeks access to public records under the Tennessee Open Records Act, §10-7-503 et seq. The requested information includes a list of names of all students admitted to the school for the upcoming academic year along with their home zip codes or hometowns and the names of their graduated high schools.

Volunteer State News emphasizes that as a member of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to these public records is essential in fulfilling its professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. In light of this role in disseminating information, Volunteer State News believes it is eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.

This move underscores Volunteer State News' commitment to keeping its readers informed about developments within local educational institutions. It also serves as an example of how media organizations can use legal tools like FOIA requests to ensure transparency and accountability in public institutions.