A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Arcola Community Unit School District 306 regarding specific emails and memos on January 28, 2025. The request was made by us at 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 12 months that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. As journalists, we believe access to public records is crucial in fulfilling our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
In line with this commitment, we have requested these documents under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. We also requested that these records be provided in an electronic format for ease of access and dissemination.
As part of our role in gathering and reporting news to the public, we have applied for a fee waiver as a media professional. This will enable us to continue our work without financial hindrance.
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 is reported as being 141:1, while the student-to-teacher ratio stands at approximately 17:1. Furthermore, it's worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
We are awaiting a response from Arcola Community Unit School District 306 regarding our FOIA request.
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