“Communication is the key to success...”
The Community & Press Relations office is responsible for providing public records upon request.
Records may be requested by phone, fax, mail or email:
| Phone: | 941-708-8770 ext. 2045 |
| Fax: | 941-708-8680 |
| Address: | Community Relations School District of Manatee County 215 Manatee Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 |
| Email: | saval@manateeschools.net |
There is a charge of 15 cents per copy.
For more information on Florida Statue 119, Public Records, please click here.
Article regarding public records requests by John Bowen, School Board Attorney
An Explanation of Public Records and Information Requests
Public Records Requests
The School District of Manatee County will make available upon request all public records made or received in connection with the official business of the Board and the School District to any person for inspection, examination, and copying in accordance with applicable law and the following guidelines. The District will not create records in order to respond to a request, but will provide existing records, in whatever form those records exist.
Depending on the nature of the request, a special service charge may have to be imposed if it will take more than thirty (30) minutes to identify, locate, compile, review, copy, and re-file the requested records. This service charge will be computed to the nearest quarter hour exceeding thirty (30) minutes based on the current rate of pay of the District employee(s) and/or supervisors who perform these services. Requestors will be provided an estimate of cost and are expected to place a deposit on file prior to the commencement of any work.
How to make a request
To expedite your request you are encouraged, but are not required, to submit your specific request in writing identifying exactly which records you would like to inspect or copy, and submit the request to the Community and Press Relations Office, ATTN: Margi Nanney, Supervisor of Communications and Public Information, nanneym@manateeschools.net, Post Office Box 9069, Bradenton, Florida 34206, phone (941) 708-8770 Ext. 2046, facsimile (941) 708-8680. Your request will be acknowledged upon receipt.
Requests are public record
All requests for public records are also public records unless a specific exemption applies. An example of an exemption would be a request that contained personally identifiable student information, which would make the request confidential and exempt under both federal and state law. The district is not able to make your request confidential, even if you request it.
Reason for request and identity of requesting party
It is not necessary for a person requesting records to say why they want to copy or inspect the records. Requests for public records will be complied regardless of the requestor´s motivation for making the request. Requestors do not need to identify themselves, although it may be necessary for purposes of responding to the request.
Waiting period
There is no automatic waiting period to receive public records. The only delay is that which is reasonably necessary to allow us to compile the requested records and protect against disclosure of those records or portions of records that are confidential and exempt. Your request may also be delayed by reason of your failure to pay any required deposit or other cost.
Information requests A request for information, as distinguished from a public records request, is one in which the requested information does not already exist in public record form. For example, a person may request information that a staff member would have to create that does not already exist in document form. This would mean that staff would have to fabricate a new document using multiple documents or other sources to create a new document. This request may require staff to research an issue, provide history of a topic, or require an employee to answer questions. Such requests are not covered by the Public Records Act and are not legally enforceable. Such requests may be honored, purely as a public service, when the work can be accomplished quickly and does not become burdensome on the staff. Since the Public Records Act does not cover requests for information, there is no prohibition against imposing conditions on the honoring of such requests, except as may otherwise be provided by the District´s own rules, practices and procedures. Therefore, it is appropriate to ask that such requests be put in writing.
More information
For further details, please refer to Manatee County School Board Policy 3.5.