The Idaho State Board of Education appears to have misinterpreted Idaho’s public records law, telling Idaho Education News that simply acknowledging a records request within three business days satisfied the law.

The request, from senior reporter Kevin Richert, seeks documents and communications related to Boise State University’s athletics department deficit, discussed at the State Board’s Aug. 13 meeting. After the board asked Richert to resubmit the request through a new online form, its public records office acknowledged receipt and invoked a 10-business-day extension.

Richert pointed out that Idaho law requires an agency to grant or deny a request within three business days — not simply acknowledge it — and asked whether the request had been granted and whether the records would be provided within the 10-day window.