On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Wood River-Hartford Elementary School District 15. The request was made by Metro East Sun, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. The purpose of this request is to gather information for news reporting and provide transparency to the public about local government affairs.
As a media organization, Metro East Sun believes it plays an essential role in holding public institutions accountable. It has requested a fee waiver for this information based on its status as a media professional disseminating information to the public.
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 student-to-administrative ratio averaged at 141:1 and the student-to-teacher ratio at 17:1. Furthermore, it was reported that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master’s degree or higher.
Metro East Sun continues its commitment to providing comprehensive coverage of local governmental affairs and maintaining transparency for the public.
