A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Eureka Community Unit District 140 on January 28, 2025. The request, sent by us at Peoria Standard, a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage of local governmental affairs, seeks access to specific public records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.
The records requested are copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to these public records is crucial for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These 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 a media professional. We have asked the Eureka Community Unit District 140 for these records preferably in an electronic format.
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. Notably, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
We continue our commitment towards providing comprehensive coverage on local governmental affairs with this FOIA request being part of our efforts towards transparency and accountability.