A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Oak Grove School District 68 on January 28, 2025. The request was made by Peoria Standard, a media organization committed to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request seeks access to all emails and memos from the past 12 months that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. As members of the media, we at Peoria Standard 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.
In light of our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals. We have expressed our willingness to address any questions or concerns regarding this request.
To provide context for this request, it’s worth noting some key statistics 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. Furthermore, it’s reported that 58% of teachers in Illinois hold a master’s degree or higher.
Our commitment at Peoria Standard is to provide comprehensive coverage on matters affecting our community. This includes shedding light on issues related to education and school administration within our local districts.
