A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Princeton Elementary School District 115 on January 28, 2025. The request was made by Illinois Valley Times, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request specifically sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. As part of their mission to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency to the public, Illinois Valley Times has requested these documents in an electronic format.
In their role as a news organization, Illinois Valley Times believes they are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional. This waiver would allow them access to these records without incurring any cost, enabling them to continue their work in disseminating information to the public.
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.
This data underscores the importance of transparency in our educational institutions. As we at Illinois Valley Times continue our work in reporting on local government affairs, we believe that access to such records is essential for holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
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