On January 28, 2025, we at Kankakee Times sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Central Community Unit School District 4. The request sought access to copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study".
As part of our commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we believe it is crucial to have access to such public records. These documents are essential in fulfilling our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
We requested these records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, preferably in an electronic format. As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we also expressed our eligibility for a fee waiver as media professionals.
In addition to this request, it's worth noting some recent 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. Interestingly enough, more than half - specifically 58% - of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
We await a response from Central Community Unit School District 4 regarding our FOIA request and will continue to strive for transparency and accountability within our local government institutions.
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