On January 28, 2025, we at the Illinois Valley Times submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Serena Community Unit School District 2. The request was for copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”.
As a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, access to public records is crucial for us. These records enable us to fulfill our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
We believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals involved in gathering and reporting news to the public.
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, with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 17:1. Interestingly, over half (58%) of teachers in Illinois hold a master's degree or higher.
Our FOIA request is part of our ongoing efforts to provide insightful coverage about local education issues. By examining these emails and memos, we hope to gain further insight into educational practices within Serena Community Unit School District 2.
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