Lake County Gazette

On January 28, 2025, we at the Lake County Gazette submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Mundelein Elementary School District 75. The request was made for copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study."

As a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, access to these public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.

In our role as journalists, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. We requested that these records be provided in an electronic format for ease of access and dissemination.

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.

We continue to strive towards bringing light to matters concerning local government affairs through diligent reporting and thorough investigation. Our commitment remains unwavering in providing our readers with complete transparency regarding public institutions.