On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Momence Community Unit School District 1. The request, made by the Kankakee Times, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained specific keywords.
The keywords specified in the request were "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". The purpose of this request is to gather information for news reporting. As a media outlet, the Kankakee Times aims to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency to the public. In light of this role in disseminating information, they believe they are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
In related news 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, with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 17:1. Interestingly enough, over half (58%) of teachers in Illinois have achieved a master's degree or higher level of education.
As we continue our work at Kankakee Times covering local government affairs and holding public institutions accountable through our reporting efforts, we appreciate access to such public records that enable us to provide comprehensive and accurate news coverage.
Alerts Sign-up