Things got ugly at the Mountain View Whisman School District's board meeting, when a tense argument between trustee Steve Nelson and the superintendent led to a confrontational back-and-forth over how the district office handles public records requests.

The problem started in April, when Nelson sent the district office an elaborate and complicated public records request for math-related documents going back to 2014. The request yielded 5,000 pages of results, which had to be pruned down to 3,500 pages over three months, taking up between 35 and 40 staff hours, before it was sent to Nelson.

Since receiving the reams of paper, Nelson has come out swinging, calling the district's administration "inept and (in) need of further training on Public Records Act compliance," and calling the massive stack of documents "junk" and mostly useless.

Nelson brought his argument -- and his 2-foot stack of paper -- to the Nov. 4 board meeting, accusing district staff of failing to communicate with him to narrow the request. At the meeting, Nelson accused the district of failing to adhere to state laws requiring it to assist him in making a "focused and effective request."

Superintendent Ayinde Rudolph fired back, arguing that the district's obligation is to fulfill the request, not to interpret what he was looking for, and suggested that Nelson's broad request was the root of the problem. Over 90 percent of the district's Public Records Act requests this year were addressed within two weeks, with the exception of Nelson's.

Nelson argued that there was no effort on the district's part to try to narrow the request, an assertion that Rudolph contested, sparking a back-and-forth with raised voices on who said what via email, and when it was said. Nelson demanded that Rudolph stop interjecting during his tirade.

"Could you please not interrupt me, Dr. Rudolph, or I'm going to start yelling at you," Nelson said. "Take a seat."

Rudolph remained standing during the heated exchange, and told Nelson not to ask him to sit down as if he were "some kind of second-class citizen."

"I have listened to you question my degree, I have listened to you talk about my kids, and you just told me to take a seat," Rudolph said. "Do not tell me to take a seat. Period."

Board member Jose Gutierrez accused Nelson of being "out of line," shortly before board president Ellen Wheeler called for a break, prompting Rudolph and others to storm out of the board room. Nelson appeared to try to approach Rudolph as he left the room.

The latest flare-up follows signs that district officials are frustrated with Nelson's records requests. In June, Rudolph said that Nelson had inundated the school district with 55 requests for information in a single month, which he said detracts from the district's ability to address other, serious issues.

Nelson said his public records request in April was for information on middle school math "pathways," and a better understanding of how placement policies would guide students from fifth grade into the district's three middle school math tracks. His request reads as follows:

"Request for emailed materials related to Middle School Math tracks or pathways (Common Core 6th, 7th, 8th and pathway to Geometry in 8th for example). For the time June 2014 to end of February 2016, between the District Office staff and Middle School staff, between the District Office and TOSA working in middle schools. To Middle School math teachers (plural) from Middle School principals (only on math tracks and pathways). [no to: individual teachers, only broadcast to math planning groups etc. Also including math assessments related to choosing middle school math pathways. For the time June 2014 to end of February 2016: Any data spreadsheets at the District Office. Any data spreadsheets at the two Middle Schools. Any correspondence or documents that constitute administration of math pathways (or tracking) policy. FYI: The LASD found that email searches was the best way for them to easily find this material."

For months, Nelson has argued that the Los Altos School District and the Santa Clara County Office of Education were able to fulfill with little difficulty similar PRA requests he made earlier this year. The problem is not his request, he said, it's the Mountain View Whisman district staff 's failure to adhere to the law and help him narrow down the number of "hits" his requests get.

Nelson told the Voice in an email that his requests for public records to other school districts were worded differently than his request to the Mountain View Whisman district.

Confrontation, raised voices and thick tension are hardly new in the district's board room. Last year, board members Greg Coladonato's and Nelson's comments on how to pay for construction management services led to a testy exchange during which the district's construction manager, Todd Lee, stormed out of the room. In June 2015, Nelson stood up and loomed over Wheeler in a confrontational manner during a heated discussion on the school design for Castro Elementary.

Nelson's term on the board ends this year, and he has not sought re-election. His last meeting as a board member is expected to be later this month.