On January 28, 2025, we at the Lake County Gazette submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Laraway Community Consolidated School District 70c. The request sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained specific keywords.
The keywords in question were "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". As a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, access to these public records is crucial for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. This includes holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
We believe that as members of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.
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. It's also worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
This information could provide context for our investigation into how educational resources are allocated within schools in our district. We will continue to report on this issue as more information becomes available.
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