South Central Reporter

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Mulberry Grove Community Unit School District 1 on January 28, 2025. The request was made by South Central Reporter, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.

The request sought copies of all emails and memos from the past 12 months that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. These terms are likely related to educational materials or teaching methods used within the school district.

As members of the media, we at South Central Reporter are involved in 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. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.

Mulberry Grove Community Unit School District 1 Principal Casie Bowman (2023) | Mulberry Grove Community Unit School District 1

In relation to this request, it's worth noting some statistics about education in Illinois. According to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, and 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 will continue to keep you updated as we gather more information on this story.