On January 28, 2025, we at West Central Reporter sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Meredosia-Chambersburg Community Unit School District 11. The request was specifically for copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study".
As a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, access to 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 believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.
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 await a response from Meredosia-Chambersburg Community Unit School District 11 regarding our FOIA request. Our aim is to continue shedding light on important issues within our local government institutions for the benefit of our readership and community at large.
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