Lake County Gazette

On January 28, 2025, we at the Lake County Gazette sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 in Illinois. The request was made for copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain specific keywords.

The keywords in question are "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". These terms were chosen as they may provide insight into certain educational practices or initiatives within the school district. As a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs, we believe access to these records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities.

Our roles include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we requested a fee waiver as media professionals under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140.

Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Principal Ms. Theresa Plascencia (2023) | Waukegan Community Unit School District 60

In related news, 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 enough, over half (58%) of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

We await a response from Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 regarding our FOIA request. As always, we remain committed to keeping our readers informed about important local issues affecting their communities.