On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Marshall Community Unit School District C-2. The request, made by us at East Central Reporter, sought access to all emails and memos from the past year containing the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study."
As a media organization committed to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we believe that access to these public records is essential for our role in holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
In our request, we highlighted our eligibility for a fee waiver as media professionals engaged in gathering and reporting news to the public. We also emphasized our commitment to ensuring that the information obtained through this FOIA request will be used responsibly in disseminating information to the public.
The importance of such requests is underscored by recent data 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, over half - 58% - of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
Through this FOIA request and others like it, we at East Central Reporter aim to shed light on how these resources are being utilized within our educational institutions and contribute towards a more informed citizenry.
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