• All requests for records except requests for student records and transcripts should be directed to Othello School District's Public Records Officer.

    Making a Public Records Request
    Requests for public records should be submitted to Marissa Garza, Public Records Officer, in the following ways:

    By email: Click here to contact our Public Records Officer by email. 

    By Mail:
    Public Records Officer
    Othello School District
    1025 S. First Ave.
    Othello, WA 99344

    By Fax: Fax records requests to (509)488-5876

    In Person:
    Othello School District
    1025 S. First Ave.
    Othello, WA 99344

    Frequently Requested Public Records

    After We Receive Your Request
    A request for records under the Washington Public Records Act must seek an identifiable record.  General requests for information from the district are not treated as requests for public records and do not fall under this procedure.  The district is not required to create a new record to satisfy a request for information or a public records request.

    When the district receives a request for an identifiable record, within five (5) business days of receiving the public records request, Othello School District will:

    1. Provide the record(s); or
    2. Provide an internet address and link on the district’s website to the specific records requested; or
    3. Acknowledge that the district has received the request and provide a reasonable estimate of the time the district will require to respond to the request; or
    4. Deny the public record request with a written statement as to why it is being withheld and a citation of the specific legal exemption that applies.

    In the event that the request is unclear, the district will contact the requestor within five (5) business days to attempt to clarify the intent of the request. Once clarified, the district will respond in accordance with the guidelines stated above. If the requestor fails to clarify the request, the district may consider the request closed.

    If the record which is requested for inspection and/or copying contains both information exempted from disclosure and nonexempt information, the district will produce as much of the record as possible, with the exempt portion redacted, and will provide a written explanation for the redaction.

    The district typically processes public records requests in the order received, but may process requests out of order if doing so allows for requests to be processed more efficiently.

    Hours of Inspection
    If you choose to inspect the requested records, they must be inspected at our District Office. Public Records are made available for inspection and copying during normal business hours (Mon.-Fri. 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), excluding holidays. The District's policies governing access to public records are 4040 and 4040P.

    Costs

     

    Public Records Act Exemptions
    Certain information is exempt from public disclosure. A list of public records exemptions can be found in RCW 42.56.230-480. An agency’s failure to list an exemption shall not affect the efficacy of any exemption (RCW 42.56.070(2))