Lake County Gazette

On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Community Unit School District 200 in Illinois. The request, made by Lake County Gazette, sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained specific keywords.

The terms in question were "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". These phrases could potentially pertain to curriculum planning or educational strategies employed within the district. The requester emphasized their role as a news reporter committed to providing comprehensive coverage on local governmental affairs, asserting that access to these public records is crucial for fulfilling professional responsibilities.

In addition to requesting the documents, Lake County Gazette also asked for a fee waiver as a media professional. This is based on their commitment to holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.

Julie Kulovits Vice President | Community Unit School District 200

It's worth noting that 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 student-to-teacher ratio at 17:1. Interestingly, 58% of teachers in Illinois hold a master's degree or higher.

As we continue our work at Lake County Gazette, we believe that access to such information will enable us to provide more accurate and comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs. We look forward to sharing our findings with our readers once we receive a response from Community Unit School District 200.