A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Richland School District 88a on January 28, 2025. The request, made by the Will County Gazette, a media organization committed to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, seeks access to specific emails and memos from the past year.
The FOIA request specifically asks for copies of all emails and memos that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study.” These terms are often associated with educational materials and teaching methodologies.
As representatives of the Will County Gazette, we believe that access to these public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we have requested a fee waiver as media professionals.
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 141:1, and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Interestingly, 58% of teachers in Illinois hold a master's degree or higher.
We will continue to keep you updated as we gather more information regarding this FOIA request.
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