Lake County Gazette

On January 28, 2025, we at the Lake County Gazette submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Central City School District 133. The request was for copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained specific keywords.

The keywords in question were "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". Our goal with this request is to provide comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. As a media organization, we believe it's our responsibility to hold public institutions accountable and ensure transparency for the public.

As part of our professional responsibilities, we requested these records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. We also requested these documents in an electronic format for ease of access and dissemination.

In line with our role as a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we have applied for a fee waiver. This is based on our belief that access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities.

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, and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. It's worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

Our aim is to use this information to continue providing detailed coverage on issues affecting our community. We will keep you updated as we receive more information regarding this FOIA request.