A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the St. Joseph Community Consolidated School District 169 regarding emails and memos on January 28, 2025. The request, made by Chambana Sun, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, specifically asked for copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study".
As a media organization, we at Chambana Sun 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.
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act allows us to make such requests in order to ensure transparency within our local government bodies. It is crucial that these records be made available so that we can continue our mission of keeping the public informed about their local government's actions.
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 enough, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
We will keep you updated as more information becomes available regarding this FOIA request.
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