Public records of the school district may be viewed by the public during the regular business hours of the administration offices of the school district.  These hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for holidays and recesses.

Persons wishing to view the school district's public records will contact the board secretary and make arrangements for the viewing.  The board secretary will make arrangements for viewing the records as soon as practicable, depending on the nature of the request.

Persons may request copies of public records by telephone or in writing, including electronically.  The school district may require pre-payment of the costs prior to copy and mailing.

Persons wanting copies may be assessed a reasonable fee for the copy.  Persons wanting compilation of information may be assessed a reasonable fee for the time of the employee to review and compile the requested information.  The district will make every effort to provide the public record requested at no cost other than copying costs for a record which takes less than thirty minutes to produce.

Costs for legal services utilized for the redaction or review of legally protected confidential information may also be assessed to the individual requesting the records. Printing of materials for the public at the expense of the school district will only occur when the event is sponsored by the school district.

Pursuant to Iowa law, the board has determined certain records need to be confidential as their disclosure could jeopardize the safety of persons or property and include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Security procedures
• Emergency preparedness procedures
• Evacuation procedures
• Security codes and passwords

It is the responsibility of the board secretary to maintain accurate and current records of the school district.  It is the responsibility of the board secretary to respond in a timely manner to requests for viewing and receiving public information of the school district.

 

Legal Reference:          Iowa Code §§ 21.4; 22; 291.6 (2003).

                                    1980 Op. Att'y Gen. 88.

                                    1972 Op. Att'y Gen. 158.

                                    1968 Op. Att'y Gen. 656.

 

 

Cross Reference:          218      Board of Directors' Records

                                    401.6   Employee Records

                                    506      Student Records

                                    708      Care, Maintenance, and Disposal of School District Records

                                    902.1   News Media Relations

 

Approved 11/01/2004                           Reviewed 11/20/2006                     Revised 12/19/2006

                                                                             12/19/2006                                08/15/2022

                                                                             03/15/2010

                                                                             05/18/2015

                                                                             12/21/2020

                                                                             08/15/2022

 

 

The board recognizes the need for a communications program to provide effective two-way communication between the school district and the school district community.  The school district's communications program shall strive to meet the following goals.

• To keep citizens informed through a regular flow of information about the school district and its programs;
• To encourage and organize the interchange of ideas between the school district and the community by developing and implementing techniques for community involvement in the school district and for school district involvement in the community; and
• To assess public knowledge, attitudes and concerns on a regular basis.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to establish and maintain an on-going communications program with the community.  The superintendent shall make a recommendation to the board annually for changes in the communications program.

 

 

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 21; 22; 279.8 (2003).

Cross Reference:  104      The People and Their School District
                                      209      Committees of the Board of Directors
                                      217      Board of Directors' Relationships
                                      302      Administration Relationships
                                      402      Employees and Outside Relations
                                      902      Press, Radio and Television News Media
                                      904      Public Participation in the School District

Approved 11/01/2004                           Reviewed 03/15/2010                             Revised                   
                                                                                       05/18/2015
                                                                                       12/21/2020