A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Venice Community Unit School District 3 on January 28, 2025. The request was made by Metro East Sun, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The request seeks copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study.” These terms are often associated with educational materials and curriculum plans, suggesting that the request is aimed at gaining insight into the district's educational strategies or programs.
As members of Metro East Sun, we believe access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we have requested 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, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
We await a response from Venice Community Unit School District 3 regarding our FOIA request. We remain committed to providing our readers with accurate and comprehensive coverage of local government affairs.
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