On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Illini West High School District 307 by the Lake County Gazette. The request pertains to 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, we at the Lake County Gazette believe in holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Access to these records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities.
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 is 141:1, and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. It's also worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
We are hopeful that this FOIA request will shed light on any potential issues or concerns within Illini West High School District 307 related to these keywords. As always, our goal is to keep our readers informed about matters affecting their local schools and communities.
The FOIA request has been made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, which allows for full or partial disclosure of previously unreleased information controlled by state government organizations. We have requested these records preferably in electronic format for ease of dissemination.
We believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional given our role in disseminating information. We await a response from Illini West High School District 307 regarding this matter.
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