Chambana Sun

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Urbana School District 116 regarding specific emails and memos dated from the past year. The request, sent by us at Chambana Sun on January 28, 2025, specifically asked for documents containing the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study".

As a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we are seeking these records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. We have requested these documents in an electronic format for ease of access and analysis.

Our aim is to gather and report news to the public. Access to public records is crucial 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 a media professional.

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.

We will continue to update our readers as more information becomes available regarding this FOIA request.