Lake County Gazette

On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Schuyler Industry Community Unit School District 5. The request, made by Lake County Gazette, sought access to copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study".

The Lake County Gazette is a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. The requested information is crucial for the Gazette's mission of holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. As a media professional, the reporter has requested a fee waiver for this information.

In relation to this, it's important to note some data 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 stands at 141:1, and the average student-to-teacher ratio is at 17:1. Interestingly enough, over half - 58% - of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

The request for these specific records suggests an ongoing investigation into certain aspects of educational policy or practice within the district. The terms "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study" may refer to curriculum components or educational resources used within the district.

As representatives of Lake County Gazette, we believe that access to such public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. We await a response from Schuyler Industry Community Unit School District 5 regarding our request.