The Colorado Court of Appeals heard arguments Tuesday about whether a state law that makes educator evaluation records confidential also shields the disciplinary records of Denver Public Schools administrators.

A Denver District Court judge ruled last year that four years of “FRISK” summaries sought by Denver Gazette reporter David Migoya are not “personnel files” exempt from disclosure under the Colorado Open Records Act. But she agreed with DPS that allowing public inspection “would substantially injure the public interest.”

The Denver School Leaders Association, which represents principals and assistant principals, intervened in the case after the newspaper appealed, contending the FRISK disciplinary memos cannot be disclosed because of the statute on educator evaluation records. (FRISK is a human resources acronym for facts, rule, impact, suggestions and knowledge.)