On January 28, 2025, an FOIA request was submitted to the Stewardson-Strasburg Community Unit School District 5A. The request was made by the East Central Reporter, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request specifically 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 East Central Reporter 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. We have requested these documents preferably in electronic format for ease of access and review.
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.
As we continue our investigation into local governmental affairs, these records will provide valuable insight into how educational decisions are made within our school districts. We await a response from Stewardson-Strasburg Community Unit School District 5A regarding this request.
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