Worcester County Public Schools is committed providing access to
public records in accordance with the Maryland Public Information Act,
Annotated Code of Maryland, Title 4 of the General Provisions Article
(“MPIA”).
How to Submit an Application
Any person may request to inspect or obtain copies of public records
of the school system, unless the requested records fall into one of the
exceptions provided in the MPIA. An application for public records must
be: (1) submitted in writing, (2) include the applicant’s full name,
mailing address, and telephone number, (3) be signed by the applicant;
and (4) reasonably identify, by brief description, the public record
sought.
District MPIA Representative
Carrie Sterrs, Coordinator of Public Relations and Special Programs
Worcester County Public Schools
6270 Worcester Highway
Newark, MD 21841
www.worcesterk12.com
Phone: 410-632-5092
Applications may also be e-mailed* to [email protected] or faxed to (410) 632-0364.
*If the applicant chooses to submit an application for public records
via electronic mail, the applicant assumes the risk that such
transmittal may be compromised due to unanticipated technological
errors, which may render the electronic mail transmittal
undeliverable. (Note: Applications sent via e-mail or fax after 4:30
p.m. on a business day, on a weekend, or on a school system holiday will
not be considered received until the next business day.)
Responses to Applications
In accordance with state law, the school system will fulfill the
request for public records within 10 business days of receiving the
request, unless the school system believes that fulfilling the request
will take more than 10 business days to produce. In this case, the
school system must notify the requestor within 10 business days.
Additionally, in accordance with the MPIA, if the records sought are
precluded from disclosure, notification will be sent within 10 business
days.
Fees
In accordance with the MPIA, the custodian of record may charge an
applicant a reasonable fee for the search for, preparation of, and
reproduction of a public record. No fee will be assessed for the first
two hours of staff time that is needed to respond to a request for
records. If more than two hours of staff time is needed to fulfill the
request, the applicant will be notified of the estimated cost and must
deposit 75 percent of the estimate before work will begin. In all
cases, fees must be paid in full before any documents are delivered or
access to the documents is authorized.