YORK SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Statement on Public Records Requests
Today | learned there is information being promulgated on social media about the York
School Department's compliance with The Maine Freedom of Access Act (FOAA). | am writing
to provide you with information relative to the Department's role in dealing with FOAA requests.
The Maine Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) requires the Schoo! Department to allow any
person to inspect and copy all records in our possession that contain information relating to
public or school department business, except records that have been designated confidential by
‘statute. Personnel records and student records are two of the most important categories of
confidential records. With regard to personnel, evaluations, complaints, charges, and other
sensitive information is generally confidential. With regard to students, personally identifiable
information about a student that is contained in a record directly related to a student that the
school maintains is confidential.
When we receive a request for public records, we are required by law to make such
public records available, without exception, to the person making the request. When we do so,
we do not and have not disclosed records that include information made confidential by law. In
this regard, we recently received a request for public records relating a candidate for the school
committee. In responding to that request, with the assistance of legal counsel, we provided all
public records falling within the scope of the request, and we withheld any records or portion of
records that are confidential under the law. We did exactly what the law commands.
For more information about the FOAA, please see the FAQs on the Attorney General's
website: hips:/www.maine.zov/foaa fag/index.shimlérecords,
Kind regards,
f. Boca.
Lou Go:
ski, Superintendent
469 U.S. ROUTE ONE + YORK, MAINE * 03909-1638 + TEL. 207-363-3403 + Fax 207-363-5602
WER SITE: WWW.YORKSCHOOLS.ORG