On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Carthage Elementary School District 317 by us at the Lake County Gazette. The request was made in an effort to gather information on local governmental affairs as part of our commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage.
The FOIA request specifically sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. This request is crucial for our role in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to these public records allows us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
As a media organization, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver for this request due to our role in disseminating information. We have yet to receive a response from Carthage Elementary School District 317 regarding this matter.
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 further emphasizes the importance of transparency in educational institutions. As we continue our efforts towards ensuring accountability within local government entities, we hope that Carthage Elementary School District 317 will respond promptly and positively to our FOIA request.
