South Central Reporter

On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Kell Consolidated School District 2 in Illinois. The request, made by South Central Reporter, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, asked for copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study."

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.

In relation to this request, it's worth noting some key 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 is 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.

The outcome of this FOIA request could shed light on various aspects of education policy and practice within Kell Consolidated School District 2. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and provide updates as more information becomes available.