4340P - Public Access to District Records Procedure

Procedure 4340P

Form 4340 Public Records Request

COMMUNITY RELATIONS 

Public Access to District Records 

1.      Purpose and Scope

These procedures have been established by the Superintendent and published pursuant to Board Policy 4340 and RCW 42.56.040 to provide a framework for access to public records and to provide guidance in how the Pasco School District will respond to such requests.

School district records relating to the conduct of operations and functions of the District that have been prepared, owned, used, or retained by the District in any format are, in fact, public records to which members of the public may request access consistent with this procedure.

When processing such requests, the District will provide the fullest assistance to the requestor and provide a response in the most timely manner possible.

 

2.      Responsibility/Authority

Public Records Officer

The Public Records Officer will oversee compliance with the Public Records Act and these procedures. The Public Records Officer is the District’s point of contact for members of the public requesting access to District public records. For the most timely and efficient response, requests for public records should be directed in writing to the Public Records Officer listed below. The Public Records Officer may delegate the responsibilities of processing requests to other district staff as needed.

Consistent with state law, the Public Records Officer shall complete trainings related to the Washington Public Records Act and public records retention no later than ninety (90) days after assuming the responsibilities of the Public Records Officer. After the initial training(s), the Public Records Officer must complete refresher training at intervals of no more than four years as long as they remain the District’s Public Records Officer. Training must address particular issues related to the retention, production, and disclosure of electronic documents, including updating and improving technology information services.

 Requesters

While requesters are not required to specifically name the Public Records Act, they must give reasonable notice that their request is being made pursuant to the Act. Requesters must request identifiable records or classes of records that the District can reasonably locate. For example, a request for all or substantially all of the records prepared, owned, used, or retained by the District

is not a valid request for identifiable records.  General requests for information from the District that do not seek identifiable records are also not covered by Policy 4340. A request for all records discussing a particular topic, relating to a topic, or containing a particular keyword or name will not be considered a valid request for all of the District’s records.

 

3.      Availability of Public Records

 Hours for Inspection

Public records are available for inspection and copying during normal business hours of the

District, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding legal holidays and days the district office is closed to the public (usually Winter Break, Spring Break, and the week of July 4^th). Records must be inspected at the offices of the District.Organization of Records

The District will maintain its records in a reasonable, organized manner and take reasonable actions to protect records from damage and disorganization. A requestor shall not take District records from District offices without the permission of the Public Records Officer or designee. During the inspection of records, a District employee will typically be present to protect records from damage or disorganization.

The District will also maintain a log of public records requests that have been submitted to and processed by the District. This log shall include, but not be limited to, the following information for each request: The identity of the requestor if provided, the date the request was received, the text of the original request, a description of the records produced in response to the request, a description of the records redacted or withheld and the reasons therefor, and the date of the final disposition of the request. The log may be maintained in the District’s public records processing software, if applicable.

Information Online

A variety of records and information are available on the District website at www.psd1.org.  Requestors are encouraged to view the documents available on the website prior to submitting a records request.

 

4.      Making a Request for Public Records

 Request to Public Records Officer

Any person wishing to make a public records request may do so by one of the following methods:

 -  Online through the District’s public records portal at https://www.psd1.org/about/records/public-records-request

 -  By email, written letter by mail, in person, or phone call to the District’s Public Records Officer:

Public Records Officer

1215 Lewis Street

Pasco, WA 99301

Phone: (509) 546-2880

Fax: (509) 543-6761

Email: publicrecords@psd1.org

Public records requests which are not submitted by one of the methods described in this procedure may not be recognized as a public records request. As a result, requests for records that are not submitted as provided in this procedure are not subject to the requirements of the Public Records Act.

Public Records Requests should include the following information:

 

  - Name, address, telephone number, and email address of requestor;

  - Identification of the public records adequate for the Public Records Officer or designee to locate the records; and

  - The date the request is submitted to the District.

If the request is made by a method other than the online public records portal, the Public Records Officer will confirm receipt of the information and the substance of the request in writing by entering the request into the District’s online public records tracking system on the requester’s behalf. All public records requests will be processed using the District’s online portal and tracking system.

 

Requesting Electronic Records

The process for requesting electronic public records is the same as for requesting paper public records. However, to assist the District in responding to a request for electronic records, a requestor should provide specific search terms that will allow the Public Records Officer or designee to locate and assemble identifiable records responsive to the request.

Requesting Board Meeting Recordings

Requests for recordings of board meetings made pursuant to RCW 42.30.035(2) will only be a valid request for an identifiable record when the date of the recording, or a range of dates, is specified in the request. When searching for and providing identifiable recordings, no search criteria except date must be considered by the District.

Creating New Records

The District is not obligated by law to create a new record to satisfy a records request for information. The District may choose to create a record depending on the nature of the request and the convenience of providing the information in a new document, such as when data from multiple locations is requested and can be more easily combined into a single new record.

Copies of Records

If the requestor wishes to have copies of the records made instead of inspecting them, they shall make this clear in the request and make arrangements to pay for copies of the records or pay a deposit.

 

5.      Processing of Public Records Requests

 Order of Processing Requests

The District will typically process public records requests in the order received. However, requests may also be processed out of order if doing so allows the most requests to be processed in the most efficient manner. Multiple requests from a single requester will be processed consecutively (in the order received with other requests) if the request is for a large number of records or if the request requires significant staff time. If a requester wants a subsequent request prioritized, the requester may either withdraw the earlier request(s) or request in writing that the later request be responded to first.

Central Review

Requests not made to the Public Records Officer of the District will be promptly forwarded by building level administrators, program administrators, or other staff receiving the request to the Public Records Officer for processing.

Initial Five-Day Response

Within five (5) business days of receipt of a request, the Public Records Officer will do one or more of the following:

1.      Make the records available; or

2.      Identify an internet location where the record can be accessed. Requesters who cannot access the internet may make an appointment to view the records on a District computer, or may obtain copies for a fee based on the District’s fee schedule; or

3.      Acknowledge receipt of the request and provide a reasonable estimate of when records will be available; or

4.      If the request is unclear, acknowledge receipt of the request and ask the requestor to provide clarification, while providing a reasonable estimate of the time the District will require to respond to the request if it is not clarified; or

5.      Deny the request.

If the requestor fails to respond to the District’s request for clarification within 30 days and the entire request is unclear, the District may close the request and not further respond to it. If the requestor fails to respond to the District’s request for clarification within 30 days, and part of the request is unclear, the District will respond to the portion of the request that is clear and may close the remainder of the request. In unusual circumstances, the District may also seek a court order enjoining disclosure pursuant to law.

The District may deny a bot request that is one of multiple requests from the requestor within a twenty-four hour period if the District establishes that responding to the multiple bot requests would cause excessive interference with the District’s other essential functions. The District may deem a request to be a bot request when the District reasonably believes the request was automatically generated by a computer program or script.

If the Public Records Officer does not respond in writing within five (5) business days of receipt of the request, the requester should consider contacting the District to verify the request was received.

In calculating five (5) business days, the following are not counted: the day the District receives the request, Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and days the District office is closed to the public. Requests received after 5:00 p.m. are deemed received on the following business day.

 

Purpose of Request

The District may inquire into the purpose for which a record is requested and may use the answer to aid in gathering responsive records and determining whether the public has a legitimate interest in obtaining the information. However, a requester is not required to provide a purpose and the District may not decline to furnish the records solely because the requester refuses to furnish a purpose for the request.

 

Notice to Third Parties

In the event that the requested records contain information that may affect rights of others and may be arguably exempt from disclosure, the Public Records Officer may, prior to providing the records, give notice to such others. The notice may make it possible for the others to contact the requestor and ask him or her to revise the request, or, if necessary, seek a court order to prevent or limit the disclosure. The notice to the affected persons may also include a copy of the request and the identity of the requestor, if known.

 

Records Exempt from Disclosure

Some records are exempt from disclosure, in whole or in part, under a specific exemption contained in chapter 42.56 RCW or another statute which exempts or prohibits disclosure of specific information or records.

If the District believes that a record is exempt from disclosure and should be withheld, the Public Records Officer will state in writing the specific exemption (and statutory section) which applies and provide a brief explanation of how the exemption applies to the record being withheld or redacted. This exemption and explanation will be provided to the requestor in a withholding index or log.

If only a portion of a record is exempt from disclosure, but the remainder is not exempt, the Public Records Officer will redact the exempt portions, provide the nonexempt portions, and indicate to the requestor why portions of the record are being redacted in the withholding index or log.

List of Laws Exempting or Prohibiting Disclosure

Pursuant to RCW 42.56.070(2), the District has identified the following laws which may—in addition to those specifically listed in the Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW—exempt disclosure of certain public records or portions of records:

  - The Family Educational and Privacy Rights Act (FERPA), 20 USC § 1232g (regarding student educational records);

  - Washington State Student Education Records Law, RCW 28A.605.030;

 - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et. seq. and 34 C.F.R. Part 300 (protecting the confidentiality of personally identifying information contained in student records of students with disabilities);

  - Privileged communications and attorney work product, such as set forth in Chapter 5.60 RCW;

  - Criminal Records Privacy Act (CRPA), Chapter 10.97, RCW;

  - Information on students receiving free or reduced lunch, 42 USC § 1758(b)(6);

  -  Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), 45 CFR parts 160-164 (regarding health care information privacy and security);

  - Abuse of Children – Protection and Procedure, RCW 26.44.010; RCW 26.44.030(9);

  - Notification of Juvenile Offenders, RCW 13.04.155(3);

  - Examination question for teachers or pupils prior to the examination, Questions, RCW 28A.635.040;

  - Public Law 98-24, Section 527 of the Public Health Services Act, 41 USC § 290dd-2 (confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse patient records);

  - United States and Washington Constitutional provisions including, but not limited to, the right of privacy and freedom of association.

The above list includes only exemptions that may be in addition to those set forth in Chapter 42.56 RCW. Under appropriate circumstances, the district may rely upon other legal exemptions that are not set forth above or contained within the public disclosure law. In addition to these exemptions, the District frequently receives requests for records that are exempt from disclosure under the Washington Public Records Act as follows:

  - RCW 42.56.070 (9) prohibits providing access to lists of individuals requested for commercial purposes, and the district may not do so unless specifically authorized or directed by law;

  - RCW 42.56.230(1) exempts personal information in any files maintained for students in public schools;

  - RCW 42.56.230(2)(iii) exempts a student’s personal information in any records pertaining to the student, including correspondence;

  - RCW 42.56.250(1)(i) allows an employee who is a survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual abuse, stalking, or harassment to submit documentation to the district allowing the district to exempt their name and other personally identifying information from public disclosure.

The above lists are for informational purposes only and are not intended to cover all possible exemptions from the public records law.

 

Inspection of Records

Consistent with other demands, and without unreasonably disrupting District operations, the District shall promptly provide for the inspection of nonexempt public records through a scheduled appointment with the requestor. No member of the public may remove a document from the viewing area without the permission of the Public Records Officer, nor may he or she disassemble or alter any document. The requestor shall indicate which documents he or she wishes the District to copy. There is no cost to inspect District records.

 

Providing Electronic Records

When a requestor requests records in an electronic format, the Public Records Officer or designee will provide the nonexempt records or portions of such records that are reasonably locatable in an electronic format that is used by the District and is generally commercially available, or in a format that is reasonably translatable from the format in which the District keeps the record.

 

Providing Records in Installments

When the request is for a large number of records, the Public Records Officer or designee has the right to provide access for inspection and copying in installments. If, within thirty (30) days, the requestor fails to inspect the entire set of records or one or more of the installments, the Public Records Officer or designee may stop searching for the remaining records and close the request as discussed further below.

 

Closing Withdrawn or Abandoned Request

The requestor must claim or review the assembled records within thirty (30) days of the District's notification to him or her that the records are available for inspection or copying. The District should notify the requestor in writing of this requirement and inform the requestor that he or she should contact the District to make arrangements to claim or review the records. If the requestor or a representative of the requestor fails to claim or review the records within the thirty-day period or make other arrangements, the District may close the request and refile the assembled records.

When the requestor either withdraws the request or fails to fulfill his or her obligations to inspect the records or pay the deposit or final payment for the requested copies, the Public Records Officer will close the request and indicate to the requestor that the District has closed the request.

 

Later Discovered Documents

If, after the District has informed the requestor that it has provided all available records, the District becomes aware of additional responsive documents existing at the time of the request, it will promptly inform the requestor of the additional documents and provide them on an expedited basis.

 

6.      Costs of Providing Records

 Cost of Printed Copies and Mailing

The cost of providing photocopies or printed copies of electronic records is 15 cents ($.15) per page. Alternatively, if the District determines and documents that the fees allowed under this procedure are clearly equal to, or more than, two dollars ($2.00), the District may instead charge a flat fee of two dollars ($2.00) to provide the records. If the District charges a flat fee for the first installment, the District will not charge an additional flat fee or a per page fee for any subsequent installments.

Payment may be made by cash, check, online or money order payable to the District.

The District may also charge actual costs of mailing, including the cost of the shipping container or envelope.

The Public Records Officer or designee may require the payment of the remainder of the copying costs before providing all the records, or the payment of the costs of copying an installment before providing that installment.

If requested, the District will provide a summary of the applicable charges before any copies are made. The requestor will be allowed to revise the request in order to reduce the applicable charges.

Customized Service Charge

A customized service charge may be imposed if the District estimates that the request would require the use of information technology expertise to prepare data compilations, or to provide customized electronic access services when such compilations and customized access services are not used by the District for other District purposes. The customized service charge may reimburse the District up to the actual cost of providing the services in this paragraph.

The District will not assess a customized service charge unless it has notified the requestor of the customized service charge to be applied to the request, including an explanation of why the customized service charge applies, a description of the specific expertise, and a reasonable estimate cost of the charge. The notice will also provide the requestor the opportunity to amend his or her request in order to avoid or reduce the cost of a customized service charge.

 

Cost for Electronic Records

The cost for providing electronic records is as follows:

1.  Ten cents ($.10) per page for public records scanned into an electronic format or for the use of District equipment to scan the records;

2.  Five cents ($.05) per each four electronic files or attachment uploaded to email, cloud-based data storage service, or other means of electronic delivery;

3.  Ten cents ($.10) per gigabyte for the transmission of public records in an electronic format or for the use of District equipment to send the records electronically; and

4.  The actual cost of any digital storage media or device provided by the District, the actual cost of any container or envelope used to mail the copies to the requestor, and the actual postage or delivery charge.

The District will take reasonable steps to provide the records in the most efficient manner available to the District in its normal operations.

Alternatively, if the District determines and documents that the fees allowed under this procedure are clearly equal to, or more, than two dollars ($2.00), the District may instead charge a flat fee of two dollars ($2.00) to provide the records. If the District charges a flat fee for the first installment, the District will not charge an additional flat fee or a per page fee for any subsequent installments.

The Public Records Officer or designee may also require the payment of the remainder of the copying costs before providing all the records, or the payment of the costs of copying an installment before providing that installment.

If requested, the District will provide a summary of the applicable charges before charges are imposed under this procedure. The requestor will be allowed to revise the request in order to reduce the applicable charges.

The District will not impose copying charges for access to or downloading of records that the District routinely posts on its website prior to the receipt of a request, unless the requestor has specifically requested that the District provide copies of such records through other means.

Deposits

Before beginning to make the copies, the Public Records Officer or designee may require a deposit of up to ten percent (10%) of the estimated costs of copying all the records selected by the requestor, including the cost of a customized service charge according to the provision above.

Waiver

The Public Records Officer may waive any charge assessed for a request. On behalf of the District, the Public Records Officer may also enter into any contract, memorandum of understanding, or other agreement with a requestor that provides an alternative fee arrangement to the charges authorized in this Procedure, or in response to a voluminous or frequently occurring request.

 

7.      Review of Denials of Public Records

Petition for Internal Administrative Review of Denial of Access

Any person who objects to the initial denial or partial denial of a records request may petition in writing (including email) to the Public Records Officer for a review of that decision. The petition shall include a copy of or reasonably identify the written statement by the Public Records Officer or designee denying the request.

Consideration of Petition for Review

The Public Records Officer shall promptly provide the petition and any other relevant information to the Superintendent. That person will immediately consider the petition and either affirm or reverse the denial within two business days following the district’s receipt of the petition, or within such other time, which the District and the requestor mutually agree.

 

8.      Reporting Costs of Producing Public Records

The District will provide the information specified in RCW Chapter 40.14 to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee as required by law.

 

 

 

REV. August 1, 2024