Lake County Gazette

On January 28, 2025, we at the Lake County Gazette submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Antioch Community Consolidated School District 34. 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".

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act, under which this request was made, is a law that allows citizens access to public records. As journalists committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we believe it is essential to have access to these records. They help us fulfill our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.

In addition to our request for these specific documents, we also highlighted our role as media professionals in disseminating information. We believe this makes us eligible for a fee waiver as per the provisions of the Act.

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.

Our team at Lake County Gazette will continue working tirelessly to provide transparent and reliable information about local government affairs. This FOIA request is just one example of our commitment to holding public institutions accountable for their actions.