PA open records

I was instructed to investigate the state of public records in Peters township to better understand the hardship journalist go through everyday.First, I googled the Better Government Association's 2002 survey of state open records laws. I found that Pennsylvania ranked 48. Only Alabama and South Dakota ranked lower in the commonwealth. Then 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.I found that John Pippy was my legislator. I did find that he does support PA open records law. I contacted my district to see how I would obtain a copy of the superintendent’s contract. I was somewhat nervous and thought it might be a struggle to obtain such a document. It was to my surprise that they were very polite and more than willing to give me what I had requested. I will say, that I was a little aggravated when I found out that I had to drive home to sign for the document. They refused and said it was against their policy to mail records out. I drove home and went to the municipal building. It was there that I asked the lady at the desk for the records. She already has a copy waiting for me and all I had to do was sign my name on a sheet of paper.