Open records

19
May
By Bob Weeks

Wichita public schools: Open records requests are a burden

Listen to an audio broadcast of this article here. I recently learned that USD 259 (the Wichita, Kansas public school district) considers it a burden when citizens make requests for records. At least that's what Lynn Rogers, vice-president of the board of USD 259, told me at a May 12, 2008 meeting when I was invited to express concerns regarding my opposition to the proposed 2008 bond issue. I suspect the other board members and administration officials agree with him. As a government institution, the Wichita public school district is subject to the Kansas Open Records Act, which requires it…
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24
Mar
By Bob Weeks

Open records in Kansas follow-up

I have been recruited to participate in the Sunshine Blogger Project, an effort to gauge the compliance of the nations' governors with open records laws as they exist in each state. I wrote about my experience with the office of Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius in this article: Open Records in Kansas. The letter I received from JaLynn Copp, the Assistant Chief Counsel to Governor Sebelius, was so confusing that I wrote back requesting clarification. I had to communicate this request by writing on the processed fibers of dead trees, which were then delivered to Topeka by carbon-spewing trucks operated by…
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06
Mar
By Bob Weeks

Open records in Kansas

Recently I was recruited to participate in the Sunshine Blogger Project. Its purpose is to “find out whether America's governors properly archive the e-mail that comes into and goes out of their offices, and are able to provide copies of those e-mails when members of the public request them.” I believe that open records and meetings are important, both to news media and citizens, so I agreed to take part in the project. On February 7, 2008 I mailed (by postal mail) my request for the records of interest, which are emails sent and received by the office of Kansas…
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04
May
By Bob Weeks

Because Government Should Have Accountability

Because Government Should Have Accountability Paul M. Weyrich, Chairman and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation (Click here to read the article.) In an article from The Wichita Eagle published on May 3, 2005 titled "Ice rink figures don't add up, records show" we find this quote: "Ice Sports Wichita has been on a downward slide longer than the city staff admits in a report the City Council is scheduled to act on today, records show." These records were obtained through a request filed under the Kansas Open Records act. My understanding of this news story is that City of…
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