On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Fisher Community Unit School District 1. The request, made by Chambana Sun, a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, asked for copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study".
As stated in the request, access to public records is essential for Chambana Sun's mission to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency to the public. The organization also believes it is eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
In relation to this story, it's worth noting some key statistics about education in Illinois. According to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, while the state average administrative salary was $116,908. The average student-to-administrative ratio stands at 141:1 and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Furthermore, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
Chambana Sun continues its commitment to reporting on educational issues and ensuring transparency within our local school districts.
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