A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the South Central Community Unit School District 401 regarding copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain specific keywords. The request was made on January 28, 2025.
As part of our commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at South Central Reporter requested these records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. The keywords specified in the request were “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”.
Our role as a media organization involves gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
According to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, while the state average Administrative Salary was $116,908. The average student-to-administrative ratio is 141:1, and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Interestingly, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
We believe that our role in disseminating information makes us eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals. We will continue to keep you updated as we receive more information about this FOIA request.
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