Lake County Gazette

On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Jasper Community Consolidated School District 17. The request was made by us at the Lake County Gazette, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.

The FOIA request seeks copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". These terms may be related to specific educational programs or initiatives within the school district.

As part of our commitment to transparency and accountability in public institutions, we believe it is essential for us to have access to these records. This will enable us to fulfill our professional responsibilities as journalists and provide our readers with informed reporting on matters affecting their local schools.

Jasper Community Consolidated School District 17 Principal Mrs. Shari Berger (2023) | Jasper Community Consolidated School District 17

We also requested a fee waiver for this information, citing our role as a media organization disseminating information to the public.

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.

As we continue to investigate matters related to education in Illinois, we will share any significant findings from these records once they are received and reviewed.