Public Records Requests
Albany Unified School District is committed to transparent and open public agency practices. Access to information concerning the conduct of the people’s business is a fundamental and necessary right of every person in this state. “Public records” includes any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public’s business prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics.
Key Information Needed
All public records requests must include the following:
Requestor's first and last name
Requestor's company, organization, or agency name, if any
Requestor's mailing address
Requestor's telephone number
Requestor's fax number, if any
Requestor's email address
Records requested must be focused and reasonably describe the record(s) being sought. Please include the preferred method of delivery of records (email, postal service, fax, pickup). If there is a request to pick up records, AUSD will charge the requestor $0.10 per copy for printing.
Requestor's company, organization, or agency name, if any
Requestor's mailing address
Requestor's telephone number
Requestor's fax number, if any
Requestor's email address
Records requested must be focused and reasonably describe the record(s) being sought. Please include the preferred method of delivery of records (email, postal service, fax, pickup). If there is a request to pick up records, AUSD will charge the requestor $0.10 per copy for printing.
Mailing Instructions
There are two ways requestors may submit a records request:
Submit a records request via email to [email protected]
Mail or drop off a records request at:
Albany Unified School District
1216 Solano Ave.
Albany, CA 94706
Attention: Public Records Request
Mail or drop off a records request at:
Albany Unified School District
1216 Solano Ave.
Albany, CA 94706
Attention: Public Records Request
What is the timeline for a records request?
Within ten days from receipt of a request for public records, AUSD will determine whether it has disclosable documents in its possession that are responsive to the request. The district will notify the requesting party of the records it can provide and the estimated date the records will be available. However, AUSD is not required to produce public records within ten days. The time limit for AUSD's initial determination can be extended by up to an additional 14 days. The determination letter notifies the requester approximately when the records will be available.
The CPRA requires that records be produced "promptly." This usually means about 2–3 weeks, taking into account the collection of records, redaction, and copying. Due to factors such as volume or complexity, the time needed for production is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The district is not required to create records in response to CPRA requests; however, compiling records and creating a summary is reasonable and appropriate in some situations.
What if the records requested cannot be obtained?
Under the California Public Records Act (CPRA ), AUSD’s obligations are satisfied if the district cannot identify the requested information after making a reasonable effort to elicit additional clarifying information from the requestor.
How is sensitive information handled?
Whether or not redaction is required depends on the nature of the records and/or information (e.g., privileged and/or legally exempt information, information regarding identifiable student(s), and personnel records). Redaction is dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
What information is exempt from the CPRA?
Certain documents and/or information are exempt from production under the California Public Records Act (CPRA). Common exemptions include student records, records protected by attorney/client privilege, certain records related to pending litigation, personnel, medical, or other similarly private records.
AUSD will withhold documents exempt from disclosure under the CPRA. Specifically, the district will withhold documents that are subject to the attorney-client privilege (Cal. Gov. Code § 7927.705), notes, drafts, memorandum, or other materials reflecting deliberative or decision-making processes (Cal. Gov. Code § 7927.500), and records where the public interest served by not disclosing the record clearly outweighs the public interest served by disclosure of the record (Cal. Gov. Code § 7922.000).
In what format will I receive the requested records?
If there is a problem in producing the records according to the timeline previously given to a requestor, the District will notify the requestor that there will be a new timeline for production. AUSD's threshold obligation is to produce records in their original format, including electronic records. In certain circumstances, the requestor bears the cost of producing a record in its electronic format. The District can object that a request is too broad or unduly burdensome or that documents cannot be located with reasonable effort.