On January 28, 2025, we at the Lake County Gazette sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Chester Non-High School District 122. The request was made in pursuit of emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study".
As a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we believe access to public records is essential for fulfilling our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
We requested these records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, preferably in electronic format. As a member of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we have also asked 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. Interestingly enough, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
Our commitment at Lake County Gazette remains steadfast in delivering accurate information to our readership while maintaining transparency with public institutions such as Chester Non-High School District 122. We eagerly await their response to our FOIA request.
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