On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Central School District 104 by the Lake County Gazette. The request pertains to internal communications within the school district over the past year.
The FOIA request specifically seeks copies of all emails and memos from the past 12 months that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. These terms suggest an interest in the school district's literacy programs and curriculum development.
As members of the Lake County Gazette, we believe access to these records is crucial for comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs. This information allows us to fulfill our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
In light of our role in disseminating information, we have requested a fee waiver as media professionals under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140.
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. Furthermore, it's noteworthy that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
We remain committed to providing accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs and will continue to seek transparency from public institutions like Central School District 104.
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