On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Paxton-Buckley-Loda Community Unit School District 10 in Illinois. The request, submitted by Chambana Sun, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained specific keywords.
The keywords in question were "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". The aim of this request is to gather information that will contribute to news reporting and public transparency. As a media organization, Chambana Sun believes it plays a crucial role in holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
Chambana Sun also requested for a fee waiver as a media professional involved in gathering and disseminating information.
In related news, according to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, while the state average administrative salary stood at $116,908. The average student-to-administrative ratio is 141:1, indicating an approximate number of 141 students per administrator. Meanwhile, the average student-to-teacher ratio is much lower at 17:1. This means there are approximately seventeen students for every teacher in Illinois schools. Furthermore, it's worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois have earned a master's degree or higher.
As we continue our work at Chambana Sun to provide comprehensive coverage on local governmental affairs, we believe access to such public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities.
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