In accordance with Section 36-12-40 of the Code of Alabama, Houston County Schools complies with the Alabama Open Records Act. The law provides that "every citizen has a right to inspect and take a copy of any public writing of this state, except as otherwise expressly provided by statute.

However, not all "public writings" are covered by this law.  

"records concerning security plans, procedures, assessments, measures, or systems, and any other records relating to, or having an impact upon, the security or safety of persons, structures, facilities, or other infrastructures, including without limitation information concerning critical infrastructure (as defined at 42 U.S.C. §5195c(e) as amended) and critical energy infrastructure information (as defined at 18 C.F.R. §388.113(c)(1) as amended) the public disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to be detrimental to the public safety or welfare, and records the disclosure of which would otherwise be detrimental to the best interests of the public shall be exempted from this section."

Eligibility

Under the new Open Records Act, only residents can request records. That means a person who permanently resides in Alabama, and proof of such can be an Alabama driver’s license or voter registration.

Response Time

Houston County Schools will acknowledge receipt of the request within 10 business days.

• The time required to fulfill the request will vary depending on the nature and volume of the records requested.  Some requests may require more time due to the need for extensive research, review, or redaction of confidential information.

Fees

• Search, retrieval, and production fees:  Houston County Schools may charge a fee to cover the cost of staff time for locating and producing records.  The current rate is $20.00 per hour, with a minimum of a two-hour charge of $20.00. 
• Copying Fees:  $0.50 per page for standard copies.  Additional charges may apply for non-standard formats or large volumes of documents.
• Prepayment:  Prepayment may be required before processing the request. 

How to Submit a Request

Request for public records from Houston County Schools, please download the record request form below, complete it, and email it to dhooper@hcboe.us at HCS Central Office.

Public Records Request Form