Right-to-Know / Open Records
In accordance with Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, Mars Area School District has established the following procedure to address all requests for open records.
Procedure
Mars Area School District asks that all requests for records be made in writing on the required form and be submitted to:
Attn: Mrs. Debbie Brandstetter, Open Records Officer
Mars Area School District
545 Route 228
Mars, Pa. 16046
Fax: (724) 625-1518, ext. 1509
E-mail: [email protected]
Response
Upon receipt of a written request for access to records, the District's Open Records Officer will respond to the request within five (5) business days from the date the written request is received. The Open Records Officer will provide one of the following responses:
- grant access to the requested records;
- deny access to the requested records;
- partially grant or deny access to the requested records;
- notify the requester of the need for an extension of time to fully respond; or
- request more information from the requester to clearly identify the requested material.
Note: The District may take up to a 30-day extension to fully respond to a specific request. The extension does not require the consent of the requester.
If the Open Records Officer determines that the request will be granted, public records will be provided to the requester in the medium requested, if it exists in that medium; otherwise, it will be provided in its existing medium.
For specific information regarding Mars Area School District's administrative regulations and procedures regarding requests for access to the District's public records, please refer to District Policy 801 Public Records.
Fees
A fee of 25 cents per page may be charged for copies of District records. Fees may also include the actual cost of postage, when records are mailed to the requester. The District may impose an additional fee for official certification of copies, if the certification is at the behest of the requester and is for the purpose of legally verifying the public records. The District may require pre-payment of estimated fees when the fees required to fulfill the request are expected to exceed $100.
Appeals
If the District denies a request, the requester may file an appeal with the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records within 15 business days of the District response or deemed denial. Appeals may be submitted to:
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Office of Open Records
Commonwealth Keystone Building
400 North Street , 4th Floor
Harrisburg, Pa. 17120-0225
Ph: (717) 346-9903
Fax: (717) 425-5343
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://openrecords.state.pa.us
For more information about the District's policies or procedures regarding public records, contact Mrs. Debbie Brandstetter, Open Records Officer, at (724) 625-1518, ext. 1509.