A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Brown County Community Unit School District 1 on January 28, 2025. The request, made by the West Central Reporter, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, asked for copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study."
The West Central Reporter's commitment to holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public is underscored by this request. The organization has asked for these records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, preferably in electronic format. As a media professional involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver.
In addition to our request for specific documents, it's worth noting some key statistics about education in Illinois. 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, and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Furthermore, 58% of teachers in Illinois have earned a master's degree or higher.
These figures provide important context as we continue our efforts to shed light on educational practices and policies within our local school districts. As always, we remain committed to keeping you informed about developments related to this FOIA request and other matters of public interest.
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