Chambana Sun

On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Bement Community Unit School District 5. The request, sent by Chambana Sun, a media organization dedicated to providing 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".

The purpose of this request is to promote transparency and hold public institutions accountable. As a media organization, we at Chambana Sun are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to these records is crucial for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities.

In addition to our request for information, we have also requested a fee waiver as a media professional due to our role in disseminating information.

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. It's worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

As we continue our work towards transparency and accountability in public institutions, we appreciate any assistance in accessing these records. We believe that an informed public is key to maintaining a healthy democracy.