On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Ottawa Elementary School District 141 by Illinois Valley Times. The request seeks copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study."
As a news organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at Illinois Valley Times believe access to public records is essential for fulfilling our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
The FOIA request aims to shed light on the use of these specific terms within the school district's communication over the past year. Lucy Calkins is a renowned educator known for her work in teaching literacy, while "Units of Study" is often associated with her methods.
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.
Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals under FOIA regulations. We eagerly await a response from Ottawa Elementary School District 141 regarding this request.
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