A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Hinckley-Big Rock Community Unit School District 429 regarding specific emails and memos on January 28, 2025. The request was made by 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 12 months that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. These terms are commonly associated with educational curricula and teaching methodologies.
As representatives of the Lake County Gazette, we believe access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. This includes holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we have requested 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, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
The Hinckley-Big Rock Community Unit School District has yet to respond to this FOIA request. We will continue to pursue this matter diligently in order to provide our readers with comprehensive coverage on local governmental affairs.
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