NikkiO's Open Records Challenge Experience

When I started the Open Records Challenge, I figured I would have no issue obtaining any of the information the sheet requested. I even assumed that my area's legislators would be listed as helping hands on the Passopenrecords.org website..
However, as time passed, I realized I was wrong.. soo soo wrong!

I began by completing the first two questions. I had to do some web-digging, but overall, the information was pretty easy to locate. I then moved on to the third part of the challenge: The legislators.

I visited the Passopenrecords website, foolishly assuming that Representative Ed Wojnaroski Sr. would be listed, so you can imagine the shock and disappointed that overtook me when I realized that he, nor any other legislator in Cambria County, was taking part in the fight to clean up PA's open record laws. To alleviate the slight anger I felt, I simply e-mailed Rep. Wojnaroski, pointing out that he's not listed, asking him why this is and urging him to take part in the website and the issue it represents.

After contacting my legislator, I went on to question four of the challenge - the document request challenge. I decided to request the contract of the Greater Johnstown School District's superintendent. First, I contacted the administration building and spoke to the board secretary (who's name will be kept confidential). She first seemed confused about what I was asking of her, but I was able to get an address and contact name out of her - that was about the extent of it.

I looked up a few sample open documents request letters, just to get an idea of what I was dealing with. I then wrote up my request letter, which I found to be stern, straight to the point and a wee bit more polite than any of the samples I had read. I first tried to mail my letter on March 29, but that blasted postal worker wanted nothing to do with my mail that day, so he didn't take it. It almost seemed like he was in on it with that secretary.. both of them, working against me as I tried to race the clock and get the letter sent by Monday. However, I foiled their plans when I decided to put it in a public mailbox down the street - I knew my letter would be picked up there.

I let an entire week pass before I called to follow-up on the letter I had sent out. When I called the administration building, I talked to the secretary again. I asked if my letter had been received and she quickly replied with a 'no, it's not here.. nooo where to be found!' type of response. She almost seemed happy. it was almost as if the letter was right in front of her, but she chose to say no!

I let some more time pass and I called again about my request - this time, I spoke to someone else who worked in the building, someone a bit more personable. Believe it or not, after a little bit of digging, he found my letter. He let me know it would cost $.75 per page to print and that I must contact the board secretary directly to arrange payment for the documents to be sent.

I personally went down to the administration office, spoke to the board secretary and arranged for the documents to be sent to me. She didn't give me much of a hassle. Nonetheless, the whole situation just made me lose a little faith in the effectiveness of snail-mail. I figured when something was in writing (or typing) it was just as, if not more, valid than going directly to a person and making a request. I guess I was wrong :(
However, I will get the documents I have requested, even if I have to shell out an over-priced $.75 per page!

-NikkiO