Public Records Request

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.

Public records are open to inspection at all times during LUSD’s office hours, and every person has a right to inspect any public record except as provided in the CPRA. Any reasonably segregable portion of a record shall be available for inspection by any person requesting the record after the deletion of the portions that are exempted by law.

Within ten days from receipt of a request for public records, LUSD 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, LUSD is not required to produce public records within ten days. In "unusual circumstances," the time limit for LUSD's initial determination can be extended by up to an additional 14 days. The determination letter notifies the requestor 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.

LUSD will assist requestors in identifying responsive records, describing their technology and location, and helping them overcome any basis for denial of the request.

LUSD’s CPRA obligations are satisfied if the district cannot identify the requested information after making a reasonable effort to elicit additional clarifying information from the requestor.

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.

Certain documents and/or information are exempt from production under the 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.

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. LUSD'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 overbroad or unduly burdensome or that documents cannot be located with reasonable effort. 

LUSD 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). 

For more information about LUSD’s process for handling public records requests, the district’s Administrative Regulation (AR)1340 and Board Policy (BP)1340 are available for public preview at: www.lusd.org/board/board-policies

There are two ways requestors may submit a records request: 

1. Submit a records request via email to CPRArequest@lusd.org
    
2. Mail or drop off a records request at:

Lompoc Unified School District
1301 North A Street
Lompoc, Ca 93436
Attention: CPRA Request

Please include as much information as possible about the record, such as title, date(s), department, etc. 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, LUSD will charge the requestor $0.10 per copy for printing.

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