Many people hear about others putting in a request for information to the school district, but aren’t aware how easy it is to do. The truth is that because of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) any citizen can obtain records from any public entity. This is one of the ways that we can maintain control over the people we elect. You can find information on the FOIA here:
http://www.atg.wa.gov/Records.aspx#.VEluXldkxzY
How to submit a Request for Public Records:
Usually, a public entity will have the instructions for requesting information posted where it can be easily found. I was not able to find any information on the Colville web page, but I do know they keep notices posted in all buildings. I know a few different ways to put in a request.
– Go down in person to the district office located in the Aster school building, 217 S. Hofstetter Street, Colville. Ask for a Public Records Request form. You can fill it out in the office, or take it home and mail it in.
– Request a Public Records Request form by phone or mail and have it mailed to you. You can then mail it back or submit it in person.
– Email in your request. To the best of my knowledge, a Public Records Request should be mailed to the superintendent. The forms on the walls of the high school ask people to mail to Superintendent Michael Cashion, but they have not been updated. I do know that until a policy has been updated, the old policy still applies. So here is Superintendent Pete Lewis’ email address: pete.lewis@colsd.org
MOST IMPORTANTLY
Make sure you receive a hard copy of whatever it is you are requesting. I have often been asked to show up in person to have a conversation about my request, and sometimes I am relentlessly asked, but there is no guarantee that what you are told in a conversation is the truth. The only way to make sure you receive honest information is to get a hard copy, whether it is a denial of your request, written documents or digital copies.
You will also want a hard copy of your conversations because this will help you make sure the organization you are dealing with keeps their word to you. It’s not uncommon for you to ask for one thing and be given something different, though similar. Or another trick is that you ask for multiple items and receive only some. You need to keep track of what you aren’t being provided because that’s usually what they would rather not give you.
With hard copies, you can match what you receive against other information you have. But a conversation has no guarantees. The person you talk to could change their story at a later date or give different information to another individual. Then where will you be? It will be your word against the organization.
The organization sometimes keeps a record of everything they give you, but a conversation can be misrepresented. I once had this problem from a bill collector who put down something completely different than what I said, and then put me in default for breaking my promise. Oh yes! You can ask a bill collector to deal with you in writing, but make sure you send the request in writing to them – and you sometimes have to send it registered because only registered mail is admitted in court.
Trust me, you’ll never regret getting hard copies no matter how difficult it becomes. Continue reading
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