A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Whiteside School District 115 in Illinois on January 28, 2025. The request, made by the Metro East Sun, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, sought access to copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”.
The request was made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. The Metro East Sun has requested these records preferably in an electronic format for ease of access and review.
As a media organization, we at Metro East 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 enough, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
We will continue our commitment towards ensuring transparency within local government institutions while providing our readers with accurate news coverage.
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