Lake County Gazette

On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Queen Bee School District 16 by the Lake County Gazette. The media organization requested copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study".

As a news outlet committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at the Lake County Gazette believe access to public records is essential for fulfilling our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.

The request made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, asked for these records preferably in an electronic format. Given our role in disseminating information, we consider ourselves eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.

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

This FOIA request forms part of our ongoing efforts to provide thorough coverage of educational issues within our community. As always, we will continue to strive for transparency and accountability in all areas of local government.