Lake County Gazette

On January 28, 2025, we at the Lake County Gazette sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Lincolnshire Prairie View School District 103. The request pertains to copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain specific keywords.

The keywords in question are "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". As a media organization committed to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, it is our duty to gather information that can provide transparency and hold public institutions accountable.

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act, under which this request has been made, is designed to ensure public access to records in the possession of public agencies. The requested documents will help us understand better the internal communication within the school district regarding these particular topics.

As part of our mission at Lake County Gazette, we believe in shedding light on educational matters that impact our community. To this end, it's worth noting 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 stands at 141:1, and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Interestingly enough, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

We hope that by making this FOIA request we can continue to provide our readers with valuable insights into their local education system. We believe it's crucial for citizens to understand how decisions are being made within these institutions that directly affect their children's education.