On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Ohio Community High School District 505 by Illinois Valley Times. The request specifically sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study".
As a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at Illinois Valley Times believe access to public records is crucial for fulfilling our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency for the public.
The request was made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, with a preference for receiving the records in an electronic format. As members of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, 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, while the state average administrative salary stood at $116,908. The average student-to-administrative ratio is reported as being 141:1, with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 17:1. It's also worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois hold a master's degree or higher.
We await a response from Ohio Community High School District 505 regarding our FOIA request and will continue to strive towards promoting transparency within our local government institutions.
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