Communications

The Data Practices Act (Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13) presumes that all government data are public unless a state or federal law says the data are not public. Government data is a term that means all recorded information a government entity has, including paper and electronic media.

The Data Practices Act also provides that South Washington County Schools must keep all government data in a way that makes it easy for you, as a member of the public, to access public data. You have the right to look at (inspect), free of charge, all public data that we keep. You also have the right to get copies of public data. The Data Practices Act allows us to charge for copies. You have the right to look at data, free of charge, before deciding to request copies. Data will be provided in the format that it is available to us.

Data Request Form

South Washington County Schools will respond to requests as soon as reasonably possible (usually within 30 days).

If you have any additional questions please direct them to the Data Practices Compliance Official, Pepe Barton, Director of Communications and Community Relations at pbarton1@sowashco.org.

SoWashCo Schools uses Blackboard Connect, a system to reach thousands of families and staff via email, phone and text message. These messages may include weekly updates from the school and district, notifications of school closings or delays or emergency notifications.

It's important that every family have updated contact information to ensure they receive timely and important communications.

If you have unsubscribed to, or opted-out of, phone calls, text messages or emails from your child’s school or the district, you can resubscribe by following the steps below.

Media Opt-Out Form 

Throughout the school year, staff of South Washington County Schools (SoWashCo Schools), community partners and media representatives (with approval of district administration) may interview, photograph or videotape your child for us in recognitions that highlight student achievement, publications, television reports, public presentations, social media, marketing materials and websites. The photographs may be groups of students or individuals and the students' names may be used. 

Parents or guardians must opt-out if they do not want their student(s) to be interviewed, photographed or videotaped. 

The opt-out form does not apply to school-based projects, photos in yearbooks, class photos, student photos, student displays at school with photos, etc.

The Media Opt-Out form must completed once for each student you wish to opt-out. 

Media Opt-Out Form