Kankakee Times

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Kankakee School District 111 in Illinois on January 28, 2025. The request was made by a news reporter from the Kankakee Times, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.

The FOIA request specifically asked for copies of all emails and memos from the past 12 months that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. The request also stated that as members of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to public records is essential for them to fulfill their professional responsibilities. These responsibilities include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.

As a media organization, Kankakee Times believes it is eligible for a fee waiver. They have requested these documents preferably in electronic format.

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

The FOIA request underscores our commitment at Kankakee Times to ensure transparency in local government operations and maintain accountability within our educational institutions.