Paper seeks to open records on Huron superintendent

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The Daily Republic has filed an appeal seeking a copy of a settlement agreement between the Huron School District and its former superintendent.

The Daily Republic first sought a copy of the agreement last winter, when it learned the district was paying not only its current superintendent but also a former superintendent. The school district refused to provide a copy of the settlement agreement with former superintendent Ross Opsal, but The Daily Republic was still able to learn that the district had been paying Opsal nearly $11,000 a month following his resignation.

In July, a new state law took effect clarifying that current or prior contracts with public employees, and any related documents that specify the consideration to be paid to public employees, are open records.

On the basis of that new law, The Daily Republic filed a new request for a copy of the agreement between Opsal and the Huron School District and was again denied by the district.

This week, the newspaper sent an appeal to the Office of Hearing Examiners, which is the state entity responsible for determining whether a denied record should be open to public inspection.

Tags: open records, open government, news, updates, huron, state