The business of Laurens County School District 55 (LCSD 55) is open to public review, as required by the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-20(c) defines “public record” as “all books, papers, maps, photographs, cards, tapes, recordings, or other documentary materials regardless of physical form or characteristics prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by a public body.”

To make a request, email Faye C. Colley, LCSD 55 Coordinator of Communications, at  fccolley@laurens55.org, or send a request via mail to: 

Faye C. Colley

LCSD 55 Administrative Office 

301 Hillcrest Drive

Laurens, SC, 29360

Please state in your request:

• Full name

• Full address including street, city, state, and zip code

• Email address

• Telephone number

• A detailed description of the public records you are requesting

• Date of request

• Organization you represent, if applicable

• Signed statement that the information will not be used for commercial solicitation

• Justification if requesting reduction in or waiver of fees

LCSD 55 charges only for its costs to fulfill each request. LCSD 55 has the sole authority to grant or deny fee reductions and/or fee waivers.

According to S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-30, "The fee for the search, retrieval, or redaction of records shall not exceed the prorated hourly salary of the lowest paid employee who, in the reasonable discretion of the custodian of the records, has the necessary skill and training to perform the request."

Upon receipt of a FOIA request, LCSD 55 reviews the request to assess the cost of the request. LCSD 55 will not charge requestors if the fee for a FOIA request is less than $5.00 (Five Dollars and Zero Cents). For requests which require a fee, the requestor will receive notification of estimated hours and total cost. Requestors may determine to   amend the request which may lessen the associated cost.  If so, LCSD 55 will provide a new estimate of hours and total cost based on the amended request.

Requestors are required to pay a deposit of 25% of the estimated cost before LCSD 55 gathers the information requested. LCSD 55 requires full payment before releasing the information. Only check payments made payable to LCSD 55 are accepted.  Payment must be submitted to:  

Faye C. Colley

LCSD 55 Administrative Office 

301 Hillcrest Drive

Laurens, SC, 29360

The requestor must email fccolley@laurens55.org to provide notification that payment is being sent. Requestors will receive a notification when payment is received. 

For requests that are determined to be fulfilled based on the receipt of a deposit or waiver of fees, FOIA deadline guidelines will be adhered to. However, all deadlines may be extended by mutual agreement of the requestor and Laurens County School District 55 and this agreement shall not be unreasonably withheld.

Below is a table of the fee calculation guidelines:

*Fee is determined by the hourly wage plus benefits of employee(s) preparing the information requested. Fees are subject to change.

S.C. Code Ann. §30-4-40. Matters exempt from disclosure.

(a) A public body may but is not required to exempt from disclosure the following information:

(1) Trade secrets, which are defined as unpatented, secret, commercially valuable plans, appliances, formulas, or processes, which are used for the making, preparing, compounding, treating, or processing of articles or materials which are trade commodities obtained from a person and which are generally recognized as confidential and work products, in whole or in part collected or produced for sale or resale, and paid subscriber information. Trade secrets also include, for those public bodies who market services or products in competition with others, feasibility, planning, and marketing studies, marine terminal service and non tariff agreements, and evaluations and other materials which contain references to potential customers, competitive information, or evaluation.

(2) Information of a personal nature where the public disclosure thereof would constitute unreasonable invasion of personal privacy. Information of a personal nature shall include, but not be limited to, information as to gross receipts contained in applications for business licenses, information relating to public records which include the name, address, and telephone number or other such information of an individual or individuals who are handicapped or disabled when the information is requested for person-to-person commercial solicitation of handicapped persons solely by virtue of their handicap, and any audio recording of the final statements of a dying victim in a call to 911 emergency services. Any audio of the victim's statements must be redacted prior to the release of the recording unless the privacy interest is waived by the victim's next of kin. This provision must not be interpreted to restrict access by the public and press to information contained in public records.

Printable LCSD 55 FOIA Request Information (PDF)