The Board of Education recognizes its responsibility to maintain the public records of this District and to make such records available to residents of Ohio for inspection and reproduction in accordance with Ohio's Public Records Act. This policy does not, and is not intended to, expand the right of access to public records afforded by the Act.

The Board will utilize the following procedures regarding the availability of public records. "Public records" are defined by the Public Records Act as any document, device, or item, regardless of physical form or characteristic, including an electronic record as defined in statute as having been created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means, created or received by or coming under the jurisdiction of the Board or its employees, which serves to document the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, operations, or other activities of the District. "Public records" do not include medical records, trial preparation records, confidential law enforcement investigatory records, records whose release is prohibited by State or Federal law, or any other records that are excepted from the definition of "Public Records" under R.C. 149.43.

Subject to the provisions of the Act and this Policy, the public records of this District shall be available for inspection during regular business hours, with the exception of published holidays. Upon request, a person may receive copies of public records, at cost, within a reasonable period of time. The District’s public records shall be promptly prepared and made available for inspection. A reasonable period of time may be necessary due to the volume of records requested, the proximity of the location where the records are stored, and/or for the District to review and redact privileged, confidential, or otherwise non-public information contained in the record.

Each request for public records shall be evaluated for a response. Although no specific language is required to make a request, the requester must minimally identify the record(s) requested with sufficient clarity to allow the District to identify, retrieve, and review the record(s). The request for records need not be in writing. The requestor shall not be required to provide his/her identity or the intended use of the requested public record(s).

At the time of the request, the records custodian shall inform the person making the request of the estimated length of time required to gather the records. All requests for public records shall be acknowledged by the District following the receipt of the request. If the request for records was in writing, the acknowledgement by the District shall also be in writing.

The Superintendent, or the Superintendent's designee, is authorized to grant or refuse access to the records of this District in accordance with the law. Any denial, in whole or in part, of a public records request must include an explanation, including the legal basis for the denial. If portions of a record are public and portions are exempt, the exempt portions are to be redacted and the rest released. If there are redactions, each redaction must be accompanied by a supporting explanation, including the legal basis. If the request for records was in writing, the explanation shall also be in writing.

A person may purchase copies of the District’s public records upon payment of a fee. A person who chooses to purchase a copy of a public record may request to have said record duplicated on paper, on the same medium on which the District keeps the record, or on any other medium in which the custodian of records determines that said record reasonably can be duplicated as an integral part of normal operations. A person who chooses to purchase a copy of a public record may also choose to have that record sent to him/her by United States mail or by other means of delivery or transmission provided the person making the request pays in advance for said record as well as costs for postage and supplies used in the mailing.

Those seeking public records will be charged only the actual cost of making copies, in accordance with the Public Records Act.

Documents in electronic mail format are records if they fall within the definition of "Record" set for the R.C. 149.011(G).

No public record may be removed from the office in which it is maintained except by a Board officer or employee in the course of the performance of his/her duties.

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

A School District Records Commission shall be established consisting of the Board President, Treasurer, and Superintendent of Schools in accordance with law to judge the advisability of destroying District records. Record retention schedules shall be updated regularly and posted prominently. The Commission shall meet at least once every twelve (12) months.

The Superintendent shall provide for the inspection, reproduction, and release of public records in accordance with this policy and with the Public Records Law. Administrative guidelines shall be developed to provide guidance to District employees in responding to public records requests. The Superintendent shall require the posting and distribution of this policy in accordance with statute.

R.C. 9.01, 102.03(B), 149.011, 149.41, 149.43, 1306.01, 1347 et seq., 3313.26,
R.C. 3319.32, 3319.321
20 U.S.C. 1232g

Revised 5/95
Revised 5/11/98
Revised 3/26/01
Revised 1/24/05
Revised 10/8/07