On January 28, 2025, we at the Peoria Standard submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Bartonville School District 66. 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 committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we believe access to these public records is essential for fulfilling our professional responsibilities. These responsibilities include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
In our role as disseminators of information, we have requested a fee waiver as a media professional. This request aligns with our mission to provide thorough and transparent reporting on matters concerning local government and education.
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 stands at 141:1, with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 17:1. Notably, 58% of teachers in Illinois possess a master’s degree or higher.
We await a response from Bartonville School District 66 regarding our FOIA request. As always, we remain committed to bringing light to important issues affecting our community through diligent reporting.
