The Texas Public Information Act (PIA) — Texas Government Code Chapter 552 — gives Texas residents the right to request records from state and local government bodies, including school districts. When a governmental body believes producing those records will cost more than $40, it must send the requester a written cost estimate before charging anything. Texas Government Code §552.2615(b) then gives the requester ten business days to object in writing, modify the request, or accept the estimate — and if no response is sent in time, the request is treated as withdrawn.

On May 27, 2026, Allen Independent School District (Allen ISD) sent LION a single aggregate cost estimate covering six open public-information requests: ALLENISD-PIA-003 through ALLENISD-PIA-008. On June 1, LION filed a written objection and statutory modification responding to that estimate.

The six-point response did the following:

1. Objected to the aggregate format and demanded an itemized per-request cost estimate for each of the six requests, so each one could be evaluated and paid on its own terms.
2. Invoked Texas Government Code §552.234, which allows a requester to receive responsive records by electronic delivery when the records exist electronically — eliminating per-page copy charges for materials the District already holds in digital form.
3. Requested severance under the PIA so that ALLENISD-PIA-003, ALLENISD-PIA-005, ALLENISD-PIA-007, ALLENISD-PIA-008, and the narrowed portion of ALLENISD-PIA-006 could be produced immediately, separately from any remaining disputed portion.
4. Renewed LION’s prior fee-waiver request under Texas Government Code §552.267, which authorizes a governmental body to waive or reduce charges when releasing the information primarily benefits the general public.
5. Reserved LION’s right to file an overcharge complaint with the Texas Attorney General (AG) under §552.2615 and Texas Administrative Code Title 1, §70.8, the rule governing complaints about charges that exceed what the statute and rules allow.
6. Confirmed that under §552.2615(b) the District’s deadline clock is paused while a written objection and modification are pending.

The six underlying requests cover sources used to assemble Allen ISD’s proposed library-materials lists, the Local School Library Advisory Council (LSLAC) selection process, and related internal communications. They remain open pending the District’s response to the objection.

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