Lake County Gazette

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Freeport School District 145 regarding copies of all emails and memos from the past 12 months. The request, dated January 28, 2025, specifically sought documents containing the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study".

The request was made by us at Lake County Gazette, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. As journalists, we believe access to public records is crucial for fulfilling our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. We also stated our eligibility for a fee waiver as media professionals.

In related news, according to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, while the state average administrative salary stood at $116,908. The report also highlighted that the average student-to-administrative ratio is 141:1 and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Interestingly, it was found that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

Our efforts are aimed at ensuring transparency in how our educational institutions operate and how they utilize their resources. Through this FOIA request, we hope to shed light on any relevant discussions or decisions made within the Freeport School District over the past year.