A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Illinois Valley Central Unit School District 321 on January 28, 2025. The request, issued by Peoria Standard, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained specific keywords.
The two keywords in question were “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. As a media organization, we are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which 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 a media professional. We have requested these documents preferably in electronic format under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140.
In relation to this request, it’s important to note some facts about education in Illinois. 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 and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Interestingly enough, more than half – precisely 58% – of teachers in Illinois have a master’s degree or higher.
As we continue our work towards transparency and accountability within local government affairs such as education, we look forward to receiving a positive response from the Illinois Valley Central Unit School District 321 regarding our FOIA request.
