A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Limestone-Walters Community Consolidated School District 316 on January 28, 2025. The request, made by us at Peoria Standard, seeks 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 include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
We have requested these documents in electronic format under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. Given our role in disseminating information to the public, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
In relation to this request, it’s worth noting some key data 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, with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 17:1. Interestingly enough, over half – 58% – of teachers in Illinois hold a master’s degree or higher.
We await a response from Limestone-Walters Community Consolidated School District 316 regarding our FOIA request and will continue to keep our readers informed about developments on this matter.
