A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Fairfield Public School District 112 on January 28, 2025. The request, issued by the Lake County Gazette, sought access to all emails and memos from the past year that contained specific keywords.
The requested records are part of a journalistic investigation by the Lake County Gazette into local governmental affairs. The media organization has asked for any communications containing the terms “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study.”
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act allows members of the public, including journalists, to access public records in order to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency. As such, the Lake County Gazette has requested these documents in electronic format and has also asked for a fee waiver given its role as a news organization.
In related news, according to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, while administrative salaries averaged at $116,908. Furthermore, it revealed that there is an average student-to-administrative ratio of 141:1 and an average student-to-teacher ratio of 17:1. Interestingly enough, over half (58%) of teachers in Illinois have earned a master's degree or higher.
As we continue our work at Lake County Gazette to bring comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, access to such public records remains essential. It aids us in fulfilling our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
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