East Central Reporter

On January 28, 2025, we at East Central Reporter sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to North Clay Community Unit School District 25. The request sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study."

As a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we believe access to these public records is crucial in fulfilling our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.

In light of our role in disseminating information, we requested a fee waiver as media professionals. We believe that access to such information should not be hindered by financial constraints, especially when it contributes significantly towards maintaining transparency within our communities.

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

Our commitment at East Central Reporter remains steadfast - to provide our readers with accurate information that helps them understand their local government better. We continue to use tools like FOIA requests as part of our mission to promote transparency and accountability within our public institutions.