Will County Gazette

On January 28, 2025, we at the Will County Gazette submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Plainfield School District 202 in Illinois. The request was made with the intention of obtaining copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain specific keywords.

The two keywords specified were "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". As a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs, it is essential for us to have access to such public records. This aids us in fulfilling our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency for the public.

We believe that as members of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.

Plainfield School District 202 Principal Dr. Glenn Wood (2023) | Plainfield School District 202

According to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, while the state average administrative salary stood at $116,908. Furthermore, it showed that the average student-to-administrative ratio is 141:1 and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. It also highlighted that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

As we continue our efforts to bring transparency and accountability to local government affairs, we eagerly await a response from Plainfield School District 202 regarding our FOIA request.