Student reporter hit with big bill after FOIA request

The Detroit News reports:

Leola Gee’s number one lesson for her high school journalism students: Tell the truth, and deal with whatever comes.

But Gee never expected the quest for truth would result in a nearly $8,000 bill for a Freedom of Information Act request from Plymouth-Canton Community Schools.

Salem High School student journalist Chris Robbins had a simple question: What prompts Plymouth-Canton to block access to certain websites on school computers?

Robbins, who writes for The Perspective, the joint student newspaper for Plymouth High School, Salem High School, and Canton High School, wanted to do a story on the topic, and sent a FOIA request to the district office sometime around Halloween.

Big Brother sure is expensive.