Administrative Regulation

AR 1340

Community Relations

Access To District Records

Records Open to the Public

Public records include any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the district's business prepared, owned, used or retained by the district regardless of physical form or characteristics. (Government Code 6252)

A member of the public includes any person, except a member, agent, officer, or employee of the district acting within the scope of his/her office or employment. Board of Education members are entitled to access to public records permitted by law in the administration of their duties, and, as to other public records, on the same basis as any other person. (Government Code 6252, 6252.5)

Records to which the public shall have access include but are not limited to:

1. The proposed and approved budgets (Government Code 6252; Education Code 42103)

(cf. 3100 - Budget)

2. Statistical compilations (Government Code 6252)

3. Reports and memoranda (Government Code 6252)

4. Notices and bulletins (Government Code 6252)

5. Minutes of public meetings (Government Code 6252)

(cf. 9324 - Minutes and Recordings)

6. Meeting agendas (Government Code 6252, 54957.5)

(cf. 9322 - Agenda/Meeting Materials)

7. Official communications between governmental branches (Government Code 6252)

8. School-based program plans (Education Code 52850, 54722)

(cf. 0420.1 - School-Based Program Coordination)

(cf. 0420.3 - School-Based Student Motivation and Maintenance Program)

9. Information and data relevant to the evaluation and modification of school improvement plans (Education Code 52015.5)

(cf. 0420.2 - School Improvement Program)

10. Initial proposals of exclusive employee representatives and of the district (Government Code 3547)

(cf. 4143.1/4243.1 - Public Notice - Personnel Negotiations)

11. Tort claims filed against the district and records pertaining to pending litigation which predate the filing of the litigation, unless protected by some other provision of law (Government Code 6254.25, Fairley v. Superior Court, 71 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 235, 1988)

(cf. 3320 - Claims and Actions Against the District)

12. Statements of economic interests required by the Conflict of Interest Code (Government Code 81008)

(cf. 9270 - Conflict of Interest)

13. Contracts of employment and settlement agreements (Government Code 53262)

(cf. 4117.5/4217.5/4317.5 - Termination Agreements)

(cf. 4141/4241 - Collective Bargaining Agreement)

Confidential Records

Records to which the general public shall not have access include but are not limited to:

1. Preliminary drafts, notes, interdistrict or intradistrict memoranda which are not retained by the district in the ordinary course of business, provided that the public interest in withholding these records clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosure (Government Code 6254)

(cf. 4119.23/4219.23/4319.23 - Unauthorized Release of Confidential/Privileged Information)

(cf. 9011 - Disclosure of Confidential/Privileged Information)

2. Records specifically prepared for litigation to which the district is a party or to claims made pursuant to the Tort Claims Act, until the pending litigation or claim has been finally adjudicated or otherwise settled, unless the records are protected by some other provision of law (Government Code 6254; Fairley v. Superior Court; 71 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 235 (1998))

3. Personnel records, medical records, student records, personal correspondence, or similar materials, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy (Government Code 6254)

(cf. 4112.6/4212.6/4312.6 - Personnel Files)

(cf. 4112.62/4212.62/4312.62 - Maintenance of Criminal Offender Records)

(cf. 5125 - Student Records)

(cf. 5125.1 - Release of Directory Information)

The home addresses and home telephone numbers of employees may be disclosed only as follows: (Government Code 6254.3)

a. To an agent or a family member of the individual to whom the information pertains

b. To an officer or employee of a state agency or another school district or county office of education when necessary for the performance of official duties

c. To an employee organization pursuant to regulations and decisions of the Public Employment Relations Board, unless the employee performs law enforcement-related functions or requests in writing that the information not be disclosed

d. To an agent or employee of a health benefit plan providing health services or administering claims for health services to district employees and their enrolled dependents, for the purpose of providing the health services or administering claims for employees and their enrolled dependents

4. Test questions, scoring keys and other examination data except as provided by law (Government Code 6254)

(cf. 6162.5 - Student Assessment)

5. Without affecting the law of eminent domain, the contents of real estate appraisals or engineering or feasibility estimates and evaluations made for or by the district relative to the acquisition of property, or to prospective public supply and construction contracts, until all of the property has been acquired or all of the contract agreement obtained (Government Code 6254)

6. Information required from any taxpayer in connection with the collection of local taxes that is received in confidence and the disclosure of the information to other persons would result in unfair competitive disadvantage to the person supplying the information (Government Code 6254)

(cf. 7212 - Mello-Roos Districts)

7. Library circulation records kept for the purpose of identifying the borrower of items available in the library (Government Code 6254)

(cf. 6163.1 - Library Media Centers)

8. Records for which the disclosure is exempted or prohibited pursuant to state or federal law, including, but not limited to, provisions of the Evidence Code relating to privilege (Government Code 6254)

9. Recall petitions or petitions for the reorganization of school districts (Government Code 6253.5)

10. The minutes of Board meetings held in closed session (Government Code 54957.2)

(cf. 9321 - Closed Session Purposes and Agendas)

11. Computer software developed by the district (Government Code 6254.9)

12. Written instructional textbooks or other materials for which providing a copy would infringe a copyright or would constitute an unreasonable burden on the operation of the district (65 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 185 (1981))

(cf. 5020 - Parent Rights and Responsibilities)

13. Any other records listed as exempt from public disclosure in the California Public Records Act or other statutes

Inspection of Records and Requests for Copies

Public records are open to inspection at all times during district office hours. Any reasonably segregable portion of a record shall be made available for inspection by any person requesting the record after deletion of the portions that are exempted by law. (Government Code 6253)

Within 10 days of receiving any request for a copy of records, the Superintendent or designee shall determine whether to comply with the request and shall immediately inform the person making the request of his/her determination and the reasons for it. (Government Code 6253)

In unusual circumstances, the Superintendent or designee may extend the 10-day limit for up to 14 days by providing written notice to the requester and setting forth the reasons for the extension and the date on which a determination is expected to be made. Unusual circumstances include, but only to the extent reasonably necessary to properly process the request: (Government Code 6253)

1. The need to search for and collect the requested records from field facilities or other establishments that are separate from the office processing the request

2. The need to search for, collect and appropriately examine a voluminous amount of separate and distinct records which are demanded in a single request

3. The need for consultation, which shall be conducted with all practicable speed, with another agency having a substantial interest in the determination of the request or among two or more components of the district having substantial subject matter interest therein

Any person may request a copy of any district record open to the public and not exempt from disclosure. Upon request for a copy that reasonably describes an identifiable record, an exact copy shall be promptly provided unless it is impracticable to do so. (Government Code 6253)

The Superintendent or designee shall charge an amount for copies that reflects the direct costs of duplication. Requests to waive the fee shall be submitted to the Board.

Computer data shall be provided in a form determined by the Superintendent or designee. (Government Code 6253)

Provisions of the Public Record Act shall not be construed so as to delay access for purposes of inspecting records open to the public. Any notification denying a request for public records shall state the name and title of each person responsible for the denial. (Government Code 6253)

Regulation PALOS VERDES PENINSULA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

approved: December 11, 2000 Palos Verdes Estates, California