On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Willow Grove School District 46 by South Central Reporter. The request sought access to all emails and memos from the past year that contained specific keywords.
The keywords specified in the request were "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". The purpose of this request is to provide comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. As a media organization, South Central Reporter's mission includes holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
In accordance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, South Central Reporter requested these records preferably in an electronic format. As a media professional, they also asked for a fee waiver due to their role in disseminating information to the public.
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. It's worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
This FOIA request is part of South Central Reporter's ongoing commitment to providing comprehensive coverage of local government affairs. They believe that access to such public records is essential for fulfilling their professional responsibilities.