Public Records Requests

A: "Public records" include any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public's business prepared, owned, used or retained by the agency regardless of physical form or characteristics. "Writing" means handwriting, typewriting, printing, photostating, photocopying, photographing, transmitting by electronic mail or facsimile, and every other means of recording upon any tangible thing, any form of communication or representation, including letters, words, pictures, sounds or symbols or any combination thereof, and any record thereby created, regardless of the manner in which the record has been stored (Government Code 6252).

Items such as drafts, notes, or preliminary documents are generally not considered records

A: Any person may submit a CPRA request.

The District's policy for PRA Requests is outlined in Board Policy 1340.

There is no specific form that must be used to make a request. A request can be made orally or in writing, but written requests are strongly encouraged (preferably via e-mail) to help reduce confusion about the records requested. Requests should be submitted to:

Email: 
cpra@husd.us

Mail:
HUSD Superintendent
c/o Public Records Request
24411 Amador St
Hayward, CA 94544

Please provide a detailed description of the records you seek. When a record cannot be identified by name, the requestor should attempt to be as specific as possible in describing the record, based on its content, including the designation of any forms or reports with titles, the date or dates of the document, the author and addresses, if the item is a letter or memo, etc. If known, requesters should indicate the office, school site, or the department that created and maintains the records. If the record is referred to in another document or published report and it will help to attach a copy of that reference, do so. 

The volume of requests received by the District does not permit instant response to records requests. There is no service for on-demand, same-day public records inspections, nor does the law require one. When records requests are available for release, we will contact you to set up an appointment for review.

No, we are only responsible for providing existing documents and records that are maintained by the District. The CPRA does not require that the District answer questions or create new records.

The District may refuse to disclose certain categories of records which are confidential and generally not subject to disclosure under the Public Records Act (Gov. Code §6254-6255). These include, but are not limited to:

• Preliminary drafts of certain documents created in the ordinary course of business
• Records related to pending litigation
• Attorney-client communications
• Personnel records, medical information, or other similar records the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy
• Confidential personal information on an application, i.e. home address and telephone number, financial information
• Certain student records unless disclosure is approved by a parent or other guardian

Information contained in a CPRA request is itself considered public record, and may be subject to public inspection. In other words, someone could file a request to see your request.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests apply only to federal agencies, but the CPRA is modeled on FOIA. If someone makes a request to the District under FOIA, it is treated as a request under the CPRA.