On January 28, 2025, we at the Lake County Gazette sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Somonauk Community Unit School District 432. 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 dedicated to providing comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs, we believe access to these records is crucial for our reporting. It enables us to hold public institutions accountable and ensure transparency for the public.
As part of our request, we highlighted our role as media professionals involved in gathering and disseminating news to the public. We expressed our belief that this role makes us eligible for a fee waiver under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.
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 stood at 141:1, with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 17:1. Interestingly, it was found that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
Our commitment at Lake County Gazette remains steadfast - to provide accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. Accessing such records allows us to keep public institutions accountable and maintain transparency for our readership.
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