As a citizen of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, you have the legal right to information about the school system in Oldham County. If you have asked for information from your school and have been denied this right then you have the legal right to file an Open Records Request for this information. Unfortunately, an Open Records Request appears to be required often when requesting information in Oldham County.

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This brief guide highlights some of the key points about Open Records Requests and provides everything you need to make filing Open Records Requests as easy as possible.

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The website to file an Open Records Request for Oldham County Schools is here.

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This will open an online form where you can enter your information to file this request. You then type a paragraph describing the records to be inspected. 

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Keys to this section:

• Make your request as specific and brief as possible

• Identify a "category", "format of documents", and "scope"

  • Make sure to describe what records you are requesting

  • Restrict your scope if needed (for example "electronic records")

• If listing dates make the interval as short as possible

• If asking for multiple years of data do not ask for more than 3 years

• These descriptors will allow a reasonable person to ascertain the nature and scope of the request

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If your reasonable request for information about your child and/or your school is denied by your school system and the superintendent then you will need to file an appeal to the OAG. This process is FREE and easy and is again your right to do so as a taxpayer. The OAG will review the appeal and assess whether the school system and the superintendent have violated the ORR Acts.

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This process is relatively easy. Simply forward a copy of the denial to oagappeals@ky.gov  with any of your supporting documentation to begin the process.

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If the OAG rules in your favor and the school systems and superintendent still will not comply with the ORR Act then you should seek legal counsel to retain your rights.

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Key Points About Open Records Requests

The Kentucky Attorney General recognizes that citizens have "essential access to their government to promote transparency between the government and the citizens it serves. This relationship is necessary for the continued success of our democracy. Kentucky's laws on open records and open meetings affect every public agency. Public agencies must be prepared to deal with the array of legal questions which arise under these laws."

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"Residents of the Commonwealth" may request to inspect public records. News-gathering organizations may also request to inspect public records.

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A public agency includes school district boards and many other county governing bodies. 

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Public records include:

• Books, papers, maps, photographs, cards, tapes, discs, diskettes, recordings, software, or other documentation regardless of physical form

• Emails

• Databases

• Other electronic records

• Records not maintained on the agency's premises

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The process:

• Request to inspect records made to the custodian of the records. This is the superintendent.

• The public agency must respond to the request in writing within 5 business days

• For requests which implicated an "exceptionally large number of records" the agency may "release records as they are gathered and reviewed while simultaneously processing the remaining responsive records. All records must be released by the date provided."

• The agency may refuse to permit inspection if the request places an "unreasonable burden" on the agency in producing the records.