On January 28, 2025, we at South Central Reporter submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Breese Elementary School District 12 in Illinois. The request was made for all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study."
As part of our ongoing commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we believe access to these records is crucial. These records will aid us in fulfilling our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
The terms "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study" were specifically requested due to their relevance in the field of education. Lucy Calkins is a renowned educator known for her work in developing comprehensive literacy curriculum, particularly the Units of Study program.
In addition to this specific request, it's worth noting some general statistics about education in Illinois. 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 stands at 141:1, and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Interestingly enough, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
We at South Central Reporter are dedicated to ensuring that public institutions remain transparent and accountable. We believe that our role as media professionals entitles us to a fee waiver for this FOIA request under Illinois law.
We await response from Breese Elementary School District 12 regarding our request and will continue to keep our readers informed about developments on this matter.
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