Communications

Online data requests
To look at data or request copies of data that Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools keeps, please download and fill out this data request form and email it to: ezimmerman@plsas.org

Written data requests
You may also fill out this data request form to make your request in writing and send it via U.S. mail or fax attention Data Request.

Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools
Attn: Data Request
4540 Tower Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372

Phone: 952-226-0030 

Upon receiving your written request, we will work to process it. 

• If we do not have the data, we will notify you in writing as soon as reasonably possible.
• If we have the data, but the data are not public, we will notify you in writing as soon as reasonably possible and state which specific law says the data are not public. 

• If we have the data, and the data are public, we will respond to your request with a reasonable amount of time (usually within 30 days) by doing one of the following:

  • Once notified that your data request is complete, you may review the data at no cost during business hours at the District Services Center. All individuals reviewing data must do so at the designated station in the lobby at the District Services Center.  

  • Alternatively, we can provide copies of the data as soon as possible. You can choose to pick them up, or we can mail or email them to you. If you'd like us to send the copies, please provide your mailing address or email. Electronic copies (such as via email) are available upon request if the data is in an electronic format. All charges must be paid for in cash in advance of receiving the copies (see Data Request Fees section).

If you do not understand some of the data (technical terminology, abbreviations or acronyms), please let us know. We will give you an explanation if you ask.

The Government Data Practices Act does not require us to create or collect new data in response to a data request if we do not already have the data, or to provide data in a specific form or arrangement if we do not keep the data in that form or arrangement. (For example, if the data you request are on paper only, we are not required to create electronic documents to respond to your request). 

In addition, the Government Data Practices Act does not require us to answer questions that are not requests for data. In the following example, the first statement is a question about data that does not require a response under Chapter 13. The second statement is a request for data requiring a response:

• Why did the school board approve a student field trip to a wildlife center?
• I would like copies of all documents provided to the school board as it was considering approval of a student field trip to a wildlife center on January 13, 2017. 

Request for Summary Data
Summary data are statistical records or reports that are prepared by removing all identifiers from private or confidential data on individuals. The preparation of summary data is not a means to gain access to private or confidential data. Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools will prepare summary data if you make your request in writing and pay for the cost of creating the data (prepayment may be required). Upon receiving your written request, we will respond within ten business days with the data or details of when the data will be ready and how much we will charge. 

Prior Lake-Savage Area School charges members of the public for copies of government data. These charges are authorized under Minnesota Statutes, section 13.03, subdivision 3(c). All charges must be paid for in cash in advance of receiving the copies. 

100 or fewer copies
For copies of 100 or fewer pages copied on letter or legal size paper, or transmitted electronically. 

• 25¢ for black and white
• 50¢ for each two-sided copy or color copies

More than 100 copies
The charge for most other types of copies, when a charge is not set by statute or rule, is the actual cost of searching for and retrieving the data, and making the copies or electronically transmitting the data (e.g., sending the data by email.)

In determining the actual cost of making copies, we factor in employee time, the cost of materials onto which we are copying the data (paper, CD, DVD, etc.) and mailing costs (if any). If your request is for copies of data that we cannot reproduce ourselves, such as photographs, we will charge you the actual cost we must pay an outside vendor for the copies. 

The cost of employee time to search for data, retrieve data, and make copies is $23.56 per hour. If, because of the subject matter of your request, we find it necessary for a higher-paid employee to search for and retrieve the data, we will calculate the search and retrieval portion of the copy charge at the higher salary/wage.

If the school district does not have the capacity to make the copies, e.g., photographs, the actual cost paid by the school district to an outside vendor will be charged.