West Central Reporter

On January 28, 2025, we at West Central Reporter sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Macomb Community Unit School District 185. The request sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study."

As part of our commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we believe access to these public records is essential in fulfilling our professional responsibilities. This includes holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency for the public.

The requested documents are expected to shed light on the district's internal communications regarding "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study," potentially providing valuable insights into their educational strategies or policies.

Macomb Community Unit School District 185 Principal Dr. Patrick Twomey (2023) | Macomb Community Unit School District 185

We also appealed for a fee waiver as a media professional, given our role in disseminating information to the public.

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. Interestingly, over half (58%) of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

As we continue our work in reporting news to the public and holding institutions accountable, we await a response from Macomb Community Unit School District 185 regarding our FOIA request.