East Central Reporter

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Oakland Community Unit School District 5 on January 28, 2025. 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 seeks copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". As members of the media, we at East Central Reporter are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is crucial 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. This request is made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, and we have expressed preference for receiving these records in an electronic format.

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. Furthermore, it's noteworthy that 58% of teachers in Illinois hold a master's degree or higher.

As always, our mission at East Central Reporter is to ensure accountability and transparency within our local government institutions. We eagerly await a response from Oakland Community Unit School District 5 regarding this FOIA request.