On January 28, 2025, we at the Lake County Gazette submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Edwardsville Community Unit School District 7. The request pertains to obtaining 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 providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.
The FOIA request was made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, with preference for electronic format delivery. The aim is to gather information that could shed light on how educational matters are handled within the district.
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.
The Lake County Gazette remains committed to delivering factual news about local government affairs. We will continue pursuing this FOIA request until all relevant information has been obtained and analyzed for reporting purposes.