The Fairfield County School District complies with the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (SC Code of Laws §30-4-10 et seq.), which provides the public the right to inspect or obtain copies of certain public records.

The Fairfield County School District designates the Office of Communications as the district’s FOIA Officer, responsible for coordinating and responding to all Freedom of Information Act requests.

To ensure requests are handled efficiently and in accordance with state law, the district has established the following procedure.

---

How to Submit a FOIA Request

All Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests must be submitted in writing.

Requests should be emailed to:

📧 pr@fairfield1.org

Or mailed to:

Fairfield County School District
Attn: FOIA Request
1226 U.S. Highway 321 Bypass South
Winnsboro, SC 29180

Requests should include:

• Requester’s name

• Contact information (email, phone number, or mailing address)

• A clear description of the records being requested

• Preferred format for receiving the records (electronic or printed)

Providing specific details will help the district locate records more efficiently.

---

Inspection of Public Records

Members of the public have the right to inspect public records during regular business hours, unless the records are exempt from disclosure under state or federal law.

Public records may be inspected at the Fairfield County School District Administrative Office:

Fairfield County School District
1226 U.S. Highway 321 Bypass South
Winnsboro, SC 29180

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday
8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
(Excluding district holidays)

Appointments may be required to inspect records to ensure records are available and staff are present to assist.

---

Response Timeline

In accordance with South Carolina FOIA law:

• The district will respond within 10 business days for records less than two years old.

• The district will respond within 20 business days for records older than two years.

The response will indicate whether the requested records will be provided, partially provided, or withheld pursuant to applicable law.

---

Production of Records

If the request is approved, records will be produced within the following timeframes as required by South Carolina FOIA:

• 30 calendar days for records less than two years old

• 35 calendar days for records older than two years

These timelines begin after the district’s initial response and after any required deposit has been received.

---

Format of Records

The district is not required to create new records, compile data, conduct research, or generate reports in response to a FOIA request.

Records will be provided in the format in which they are maintained by the district.

---

Fees for Records

Fairfield County School District may charge reasonable fees for the search, retrieval, redaction, and copying of records, as permitted by South Carolina law.

Fees may include:

Staff Time

Charges may apply for the time required to search for, retrieve, review, and redact records.
The district will charge based on the hourly rate of the lowest-paid qualified employee capable of performing the task.

Copies

Paper copies may be charged at a per-page rate.

Electronic storage devices (USB drives or other media) will be charged at the actual cost.

Electronic Records

Requests for electronic records, including emails and digital files, may require additional staff time to search, retrieve, and review records. Applicable fees may apply.

---

Cost Estimates and Deposits

For requests requiring significant staff time or resources, the district will provide a written estimate of the cost before processing the request.

If the estimated cost exceeds $100, the district may require a deposit of up to 25% of the estimated cost before work begins.

Work on the request will begin once the deposit has been received.

The remaining balance must be paid before records are released.

Payment for FOIA requests may be made by cash, check, or other district-approved payment methods.

---

Clarification of Requests

If a request is overly broad or unclear, the district may request additional clarification from the requester before processing.

Clarifying the scope of the request helps reduce costs and ensures records are located efficiently.

Requests involving a large volume of records, including electronic communications such as emails, may require additional time to process.

---

Redaction of Records

If a requested document contains information that is exempt from disclosure, the district may redact the exempt portions and release the remaining information as permitted by law.

---

Records That May Be Exempt

Certain records may be exempt from disclosure under state or federal law, including but not limited to:

• Student education records protected by FERPA

• Personnel records where disclosure would constitute an invasion of privacy

• Records related to ongoing investigations

• Documents specifically exempt under South Carolina law

---

Records Retention

Records maintained by the district are retained in accordance with the South Carolina Department of Archives and History records retention schedules. Some requested records may no longer exist if they have been disposed of in accordance with these schedules.

---

Denial of Requests

If a request for records is denied in whole or in part, the district will provide a written explanation citing the applicable exemption under South Carolina law.

---

FOIA Request Processing

The district processes FOIA requests in good faith and in the order received, unless circumstances require otherwise.

The district will make reasonable efforts to locate responsive records; however, the district cannot guarantee that all requested records exist or are retained.

---

Frequently Requested Public Records

Many commonly requested documents are available on the district website, including:

• Board meeting agendas

• Board meeting minutes

• District budgets

• Procurement documents

• Organizational charts

• District policies

Providing these documents online helps improve transparency and reduce processing time for records requests.

---

FOIA Contact

All FOIA requests and related inquiries should be directed to:

📧 pr@fairfield1.org

Fairfield County School District
1226 U.S. Highway 321 Bypass South
Winnsboro, SC 29180
Phone: (803) 635-4607