Lake County Gazette

On January 28, 2025, we at the Lake County Gazette submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Will County School District 92. The request sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study."

As a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, our objective is to ensure transparency in public institutions. Access to these records will allow us to fulfill our professional responsibilities effectively, which include holding public institutions accountable.

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act, under which this request was made, enables us as media professionals to access such information without incurring any fees. This provision is crucial for us as it facilitates our role 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 stood at $116,908. Furthermore, the average student-to-administrative ratio is 141:1, and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Interestingly, over half - 58% - of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

These statistics underscore our commitment at Lake County Gazette to provide detailed insights into local education matters. We believe that transparency fosters accountability and ultimately contributes to better educational outcomes for all students.

We look forward to sharing more updates on this FOIA request with our readers soon.