A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Herrin Community Unit School District 4 on January 28, 2025. The request, sent by the Carbondale Reporter, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, asked for copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study."
As a media organization, we at the Carbondale Reporter are committed to 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.
The context behind this request lies in understanding more about the educational landscape within 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 is 141:1, and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Interestingly enough, over half (58%) of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
We hope that by accessing these records we can provide further insight into how these factors interact within our local school districts like Herrin Community Unit School District 4. We will continue our pursuit of transparency and accountability within our local government institutions.
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