Lake County Gazette

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Summit Hill School District 161 on January 28, 2025. The request was made by the Lake County Gazette, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.

The FOIA request sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". As a media outlet, we at the Lake County Gazette believe in holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Access to these records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities.

In our role as disseminators of information, we have requested a fee waiver as a media professional under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. We are currently awaiting a response from Summit Hill School District 161 regarding this request.

Jim Martin Board of Education President | Summit Hill school District 161

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. It's worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

As always, we remain committed to providing comprehensive coverage on matters related to local government affairs. We believe that access to public records is not only our right but also our duty as journalists. This helps us ensure transparency and accountability within public institutions.