Illinois Valley Times

On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Bureau Valley Community Unit School District 340. The request, made by Illinois Valley Times, sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study."

The Illinois Valley Times is a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. In their FOIA request, they emphasized their role in gathering and reporting news to the public. They stated that access to public records is crucial for them to fulfill their professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.

In addition, they mentioned their eligibility for a fee waiver as a media professional due to their role in disseminating information. The request highlights the importance of transparency in our local government institutions.

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 enough, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

As we at Illinois Valley Times continue our work in providing comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs, we remain committed to ensuring transparency and accountability within our public institutions.