East Central Reporter

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Palestine Community Unit School District 3 on January 28, 2025. The request was made by East Central Reporter, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.

The FOIA request seeks copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". The request was made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, with a preference for electronic format delivery.

As members of the media at East Central Reporter, we are involved in 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.

According to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, and the 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, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

This information can help provide context as we delve into understanding how these keywords relate to operations within Palestine Community Unit School District 3 over the past year. We look forward to sharing our findings with you once we receive a response from the school district.