The Board of Education recognizes its responsibility to maintain the public records of this District and, except as prohibited by law, to make such records available to residents of Michigan for inspection and reproduction.

The public records of this District include any writing or other means of recording or retaining meaningful content prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the District, its Board, officers, or employees, subject to certain exemptions according to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Any person may make an oral or written request for any public records of the District. The person may inspect, copy, or receive copies of the public record requested. The District shall respond to such requests within five (5) working days after receipt unless otherwise agreed to in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act.

A resident may purchase copies of the District's public records upon payment of a fee. No public record may be removed from the office in which it is maintained except by an employee in the course of performing his/her duties. Such removal of records requires prior approval by the Superintendent.

The Board chooses not to provide for enhanced access to any of its public records.

Nothing in this policy shall be construed as preventing a Board member from inspecting in the performance of his/her official duties any record of this District, except student records and certain portions of personnel records.

The Superintendent is authorized to dispose of correspondence on a daily basis including those transmitted by means of voice mail or E-mail, providing the message does not alter existing District records.

The Superintendent is responsible for transmission of data contained in the single record student data base established by the Michigan Department of Education. Such transmission shall be in accordance with procedures established by the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District and the Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI).

The Superintendent shall establish administrative guidelines to ensure proper compliance with the intent of this policy and the Freedom of Information Act.

M.C.L.A. 15.231 et seq.

Revised 5/18/98
Revised 5/8/00
Revised 12/11/03