Carbondale Reporter

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Trico Community Unit School District 176 on January 28, 2025. The request, sent by the Carbondale Reporter, a media organization committed 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."

The Carbondale Reporter emphasized its role in gathering and reporting news to the public, stating that access to public records is essential for fulfilling professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given this role in disseminating information, it believes it is eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.

In related news, 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. It's also worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

The FOIA request is part of our ongoing commitment at Carbondale Reporter to provide our readers with detailed insights into local government operations and spending. We will continue to report on this story as more information becomes available.