Public Record Request Form (please use this form and make your request in writing)

Consistent with Washington State law, the Washougal School Board is committed to providing the public full access to records concerning the administration and operations of the District. Such access promotes important public policy, maintains public confidence in the fairness of governmental processes, and protects the community’s interest in the control and operation of its common school district. At the same time, the Board desires to preserve the efficient administration of government and acknowledges the privacy rights of individuals whose records may be maintained by the District.

If you wish to request review of public records, please use this linked form to request the records.    Please note that a fee may apply, depending on the record and way you wish to review it (described at the bottom of the form).

Please deliver the form to the Washougal School District Office
4855 Evergreen Way, Washougal, WA 98671 or return the form via fax or email.
Fax: 360.954.3099
Email: publicrecordsrequest@washougalsd.org
If you have questions or need assistance with your request, please contact Les Brown 360-954-3037.

When you make your request, you can speed up the process by doing these things:

  1. Provide complete contact information, including your name, mailing address, phone number, and email.  These let us contact you if we need to seek clarification of your request.
  2. A specific description of the record you are requesting.  The request must be specific enough that we can locate it.
  3. Please let us know if you would like copies of records, or if you would prefer to view records at our district office.

What happens when I make a public records request?

The public records officer acts as a contact for requests for records from the public. In general records are not housed in any specific office. When we receive a request, it joins a queue of other public records requests.

Within five business days you will be sent a notification that your request has been received. The officer and/or staff contacts the department(s) that holds the records you seek and provides them with a copy of your request. The departments will identify, collect and forward the records to the designee.

Once received, the public records officer will review the records and may redact (remove) information from records as allowed by the public records statute, state law, federal law or case law. The public records officer may also notify third parties who have an interest in the records that you have made a public records request.  Once the public records officer completes a review and records are ready to be provided, you will be contacted so we can allow inspection or provide records.

How long does this take?

Depending on the number of requests received before yours, and the size and complexity of your request, responding to your request may take anywhere from a week to a few months. If a request is very complex, more time may be required. You will be notified if this is the case. If we are able to provide records more quickly, we will do so.

You can help speed up this process by being as specific as possible when making your request, so that we are able to locate and provide the exact records you are seeking.

Note that in certain cases, we will notify the subject of a public records request about the request.  They may have a statutory right to seek a court injunction preventing disclosure of information under RCW 42.56.540. This will often increase the amount of time needed.

Can you keep my request for records confidential?

No, your public records request is not a confidential record. Your request becomes part of a public record. It can be requested by others, and the public records officer must forward public records requests to the schools or departments holding records.  They will also provide copies of your request to third parties who have an interest in the records you have requested.