On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Iuka Community Consolidated School District 7. The request, filed by South Central Reporter, sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained specific keywords.
The South Central Reporter is a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. As part of their commitment to transparency and accountability in public institutions, they requested these records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140.
The specific keywords in question were “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. These terms may be related to curriculum or teaching methods used within the school district.
As members of the media, we at South Central Reporter believe access to public records is essential for fulfilling our professional responsibilities. This includes holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. We have requested a fee waiver for this information as it pertains directly to our role in disseminating news.
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 also worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
As we continue our investigative reporting into local educational affairs, we remain committed to keeping our readers informed about important developments within our schools.
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