On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Marengo Community High School District 154. The request, sent by the Lake County Gazette, sought access to copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained specific keywords.
The requested records are those containing the terms “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. As a news organization dedicated to comprehensive coverage of local government affairs, we at the Lake County Gazette believe these documents will shed light on important issues related to education in our community.
Our commitment as a media outlet is to provide transparency and hold public institutions accountable. Access to such public records is crucial for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. Given our role in disseminating information, we have also requested a fee waiver as a media professional.
In related news, according to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, while the state average administrative salary stood at $116,908. The average student-to-administrative ratio is 141:1, and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Interestingly enough, it's worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois possess a master's degree or higher.
As we continue our mission of providing comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs, we remain committed to keeping you informed about developments on this FOIA request and other matters affecting our educational institutions.
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