The Board of Education of NORTHEAST TECHNOLOGY CENTER adopts this Policy Statement in connection with the Oklahoma Open Records Act (the "Act").

NTC Philosophy

NTC, as a tax supported institution, recognizes that the public has a right to be fully informed concerning its operations. NTC strongly believes that informed citizens are vital to the successful functioning of the democratic government process which NTC desires to exemplify to its students.

In order to achieve these goals, the Board of Education hereby states that all records of NTC, except those records designated as confidential in this Policy Statement, or, otherwise, as required by federal or state law, shall be open to any person for inspection, copying and/or mechanical reproduction during regular business hours. All persons requesting the right to inspect non-confidential records of NTC shall be accorded prompt access to those records.

Confidential Records not Available for Inspection

As permitted by the Act, NTC hereby designates the following records as confidential and not open for public inspection:

1. Records which can be kept confidential under federal or state law.

2. Personnel records which relate to internal personnel investigations including examination and selection material for employment, hiring, appointment, promotion, demotion, discipline or resignation.

3. Personnel records where disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy such as employee evaluations, payroll deductions, and employment applications submitted by persons not hired, and transcripts from institutions of higher education

4. Bid specifications for competitive bidding prior to publication; contents of sealed bids prior to bid opening; computer programs or software (but not the data thereon); and appraisals relating to the sale or acquisition of real estate prior to the award of a contract – if disclosure would give an unfair advantage to competitors or bidders.

5. Personal communications received from a person exercising rights secured by the Oklahoma or United States Constitution, except for the fact that a communication has been received and that it is or is not a complaint. Any response to such personal communications shall be confidential only to the extent necessary to protect the identity of the person exercising the right.

6. Individual student records, except for: (a) statistical information not identified with a particular student if such information is maintained in a composite form and (b) directory information as defined in the Act, if, pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act that information (i) has been designated by NTC as directory information and (ii) parents have been notified of and have not exercised their non-release rights.

7. Instructor lesson plans, tests and other teaching materials.

8. Personal communications concerning individual students.

9. Personal notes and personally created materials, when made prior to taking action, making a recommendation or issuing a report. Confidentiality does not extend to departmental budget requests prepared as an aid to memory or research leading to the adoption of a public policy or the implementation of a public project.

10. The home address of any person employed or formerly employed by NTC.

11. The home telephone number of any person employed or formerly employed by NTC, where disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.

Records Custodian

The Board of Education hereby designates its Superintendent OR if such person is not available during regular business hours, then its Records Custodian, as the person authorized to release non-confidential public records for inspection, copying or mechanical reproduction.

Fees for Records and for Search for Records

The following fees shall be charged for records reproduction and any compensable search for records:

Copies:

• 8.5"x11" $.25 per copy

• 8/5"x14" $.25 per copy

• 11"x17" $1.00 per copy

When a request for public records would clearly cause excessive disruption of NTC’s essential functions or is solely for commercial purpose, NTC will charge a reasonable fee in the amount of $25.00 per hour to recover the direct cost of document search.

NTC does not consider publication in a newspaper or broadcast by news media as resale or use of data for trade or commercial purpose. However, NTC shall charge the news media and others the direct cost of copying electronic data.

A search fee shall not be charged when the release of documents is in the public interest, including, but not limited to, release to the news media, scholars, authors and taxpayers seeking to determine whether those entrusted with the affairs of the government are honestly, faithfully, and competently performing their duties as public servants.

Costs associated with reproduction of public records shall be paid by, or on behalf of the requestor, at the time documents requested are to be picked up. In the event of a large records request, NTC may request a deposit, to be set by the records custodian, to be made at the time of the request.

Request for Records

Requests for public records shall be made to the attention of the Superintendent or NTC’s Records Custodian. The request shall identify with specificity the record or records sought. Where the request for records is unclear or confusing, the Records Custodian may request that the requestor provide a more precise explanation or description of the records requested. NTC shall produce records requested promptly, taking into consideration the accessibility of the record, the number and type of records requested, and the press of NTC business.

An individual requesting public records, pursuant to the Act, is requested to use NTC’s Request Form to expedite the processing of the request.

Appeal of Denial of Records:

If inspection of documents designated as confidential is denied, the person requesting access to such documents shall have a right to appeal the denial to the Superintendent.

Approved by the Board of Education, June 27, 2005
Amended September 14, 2020