Chambana Sun

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Community Unit School District 5 on January 28, 2025. The request was made by a news reporter from Chambana Sun, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.

The request sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". As members of the media, 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.

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, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

Kyle Bielfeldt Principal at Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Community Unit School District 5 | Official Website

This FOIA request forms part of our ongoing efforts to ensure transparency within our local education system. We will continue to update our readers as more information becomes available.