KORA Records Requests

Purpose of KORA

The Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) provides the public with the right to inspect and obtain copies of public records maintained by government entities, including school districts, except for records that are exempt from disclosure under state or federal law. 

USD 500 is committed to providing access to public records in accordance with KORA and Board Policy CN.

Submitting a Records Request

To ensure requests are accurately understood and processed, USD 500 requires requests for public records to be submitted in writing.

Requests should include:

• Requestor's full name;
• Mailing address;
• Telephone number or other contact information;
• A detailed description of the records being requested; and
• Any preferred method of receiving responsive records.

Providing detailed information helps district staff determine whether the requested records exist and are maintained by the district.

Please note that KORA applies to existing records. The district is not required to create new records, answer questions, conduct research, or generate documents that do not already exist.

Submit a Request

Requests for public records should be directed to:

Freedom of Information Officer

Edwin Burch

Email: edwin.burch@kckps.org

Response Time

The district will respond to requests as soon as possible and within the timeframes required by Kansas law.

If the records cannot be provided immediately, the district will inform the requestor when the records will be available or explain the legal basis for any denial or delay.

Charges and Fees

The Kansas Open Records Act allows public agencies to recover the actual costs incurred in providing access to or copies of public records.

Potential charges may include:

• Staff time reasonably necessary to locate, review, redact, prepare, and provide records;
• Copying costs;
• Postage or delivery expenses; and
• Other actual costs directly attributable to fulfilling the request.

Consistent with Kansas law, USD 500 will make a good-faith effort to use the lowest-cost category of staff reasonably necessary to perform the work associated with a records request.

Charges for staff time will be based on the employee's salary or hourly wage and will not include employee benefit costs.

If estimated staff time exceeds five hours or estimated staff costs exceed $200, the district may contact the requestor to discuss ways to narrow or modify the request to reduce costs.

Fees may be required in advance before work begins on fulfilling a request.

Upon request, the district will provide an itemized statement of costs associated with responding to a records request.

Records Exempt from Disclosure

Certain records are exempt from disclosure under KORA and other applicable laws, including but not limited to:

• Student education records protected by FERPA;
• Personnel records where disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;
• Records protected by attorney-client privilege;
• Records made confidential by state or federal law; and
• Other records exempt under K.S.A. 45-221.

Student Records and Transcripts

Requests for student records or transcripts are not processed through KORA.

For student records or transcript requests, please visit:

Student Records and Transcript Request Page

Questions:

Questions regarding public records requests may be directed to the Freedom of Information Officer listed above. Please note that requests will be reviewed during normal business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except when the district is closed.