A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Grass Lake School District 36 on January 28, 2025. The request, made by the Lake County Gazette, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, asked for copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study".
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act, under which this request was made, allows for public access to records in order to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency. As members of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we at the Lake County Gazette believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.
In relation to this request, 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 is 141:1, and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Furthermore, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
These figures provide context for our ongoing investigation into educational practices within Grass Lake School District 36. By requesting these specific documents under FOIA laws, we aim to shed light on how decisions are being made within our local schools and how resources are being allocated.
As always, we remain committed to providing comprehensive coverage of local governmental affairs and will continue to use tools like FOIA requests to ensure transparency and accountability within our community's institutions.
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