Anthony

I am enrolled in a journalism writing course, and, for a recent assignment, my professor instruced me to investigate the state of public records in Indiana in light of recent efforts for open record law reform.
I started by by checking where Pennsylvania ranks on the Better Government Association's 2002 survey of state open records laws. With 50 representing the state with the least open records, Pennsylvania ranked 48. Only Alabama and South Dakota trailed the commonwealth.
With this warning of possible troubles ahead in the realm of seeking public information, I looked up my state representatives on www.passopenrecords.org to see if my legislators have signed on in support of improving Pennsylvania's open records law.
Dave Reed of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives was the only politician representing me who supported reform. My other representative, Jeffrey Pyle, and my state senator, Donald White, were not on the list.
I wrote letters to the legislators who did not make the list asking why they were yet to support the reform. I have received no replies, and this seems to adequately reflect a policy of keeping information away from the masses.
With research done, I took on the task of acquiring some public information, and, as expected, I ran into some obsticles. However, knowing Pennsylvania's ranking, I was happy to get any form of acknowledgement.
I decided to get information about the contract of the school superintendent of the Indiana Area School District. After speaking to the administrative assistant three times on the phone--she initially had no idea what I was talking about and had to ask several higher-ups if I was contacting the right office; someone eventually knew--I finally concluded that I could walk into the IASD headquarters and simply ask for information, which i would get on the spot.
I am a touch lazy, and thinking the process would be quick, I did not go to the school district until the week before the assignment's due date. The secretary told me a new set of rules this time.
Apparently, the school district requires a written request for information and can take up to 10 days to respond. I went home and typed a request.
When I returned to the office, I was nicely welcomed as usual by the secretary, and she said I would get the information as soon as possible with a 10 cent charge per coped page. Because of my lateness, I am still waiting for my response. The information may be open, but it is not for free.