A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Beardstown Community Unit School District 15 on January 28, 2025. The request, sent by the West Central Reporter, sought access to all emails and memos from the past year that contained specific keywords.
The requested records are to be provided under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. The media organization specifically asked for any documents containing the terms “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study.” These terms likely pertain to educational materials or curriculum plans used within the school district.
As a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at West Central Reporter believe in holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency for our readers. We consider access to public records crucial in fulfilling these professional responsibilities.
We also requested a fee waiver as part of our FOIA request, citing our role as a media organization disseminating information to the public.
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. Interestingly, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
We will continue our efforts to provide accurate and comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs. We eagerly await a response from Beardstown Community Unit School District 15 regarding our FOIA request.
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