WEST WARWICK SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST PROCEDURE
Pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws § 38-2-3(d), the West Warwick School Department has adopted the following procedure to help you obtain public records:
1. The designated public records officer for the West Warwick School Department is the Superintendent of Schools. The contact for obtaining public record is the Superintendent’s office located at:
10 Harris Ave.
West Warwick, RI 02893
(401) 821-1180
Normal business hours for the School Department are 8:00 am to 4:00 PM Monday – Friday.
2. In order to request to inspect and/or to obtain copies of documents maintained by the School Department, the West Warwick School Department requests that you complete the request form or otherwise provide a written request for records that clearly identifies the records you seek and state that your request is made pursuant to the Access to Public Records Act. A written request for public records need not be made on the form if the request is otherwise readily identifiable as a request for public records. A written request is not necessary for documents available pursuant to RI General Law 42-35-2 or other documents prepared for or readily available to the public.
(a) The cost per copied page of written documents provided to the public shall be fifteen cents ($.15) per page for documents copyable on common business or legal size paper. The District will not charge more than the reasonable actual cost for providing electronic records or retrieving records from storage where the District is assessed a retrieval fee.
(b) A reasonable charge may be made for the search or retrieval of documents. Hourly costs for a search and retrieval shall be fifteen dollars ($15.00) per hour and no costs shall be charged for the first hour of a search or retrieval.
(c) Upon request, the District shall provide an estimate of the costs of a request for documents prior to providing copies.
(d) Upon request, the District shall provide a detailed itemization of the costs charged for search and retrieval.
3. Requests to inspect public records can be mailed or dropped off at the West Warwick School Department, 10 Harris Ave., West Warwick, RI 02893 and directed to the Superintendent’s Office. E-mail requests cannot be accepted. To make a public records request by fax, please contact the Superintendent’s Office.
4. Additional copies of this form are available on the School Department’s website found at www.westwarwickpublicschools.com under Requests for Public Records.
5. There are times when the public records that you seek are not available at the time of your request. Please be advised that the Access to Public Records Act allows a public body ten (10) business days to respond and, with “good cause,” may extend the time to respond by twenty (20) business days (thirty (30) business days total).
6. If after review of your request, the School Department determines that the requested records are exempt from disclosure for a reason set forth in RI General Laws 38-2-2(4)(i)(A) – (Y), the School Department reserves its right to claim such exemption.
7. If you feel that you have been denied access to public records, you have the right to file an appeal with the Attorney General. If you are still not satisfied, you may file a lawsuit in Superior Court. See RI General Law 38-2-8.
8. The West Warwick School Department is committed to providing you with public records in an expeditious and courteous manner.
Reviewed Date:
12/10/2019