On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Rondout School District 72. The request was made by us at the Lake County Gazette, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request specifically asked for copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". The intention behind this request is to provide transparency and hold public institutions accountable as part of our journalistic duties.
As we continue to gather information for our reporting, it's important to note some key statistics about education in Illinois. 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, with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 17:1. Additionally, it's worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
As members of the media committed to reporting news to the public, access to such public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. We believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals and await response from Rondout School District 72 regarding our request.
We will continue our efforts in providing comprehensive coverage on local governmental affairs and ensuring transparency within public institutions.
Alerts Sign-up