Peoria Standard

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Lowpoint-Washburn Community Unit School District 21 regarding emails and memos dated from the past year. The request, made by Peoria Standard, a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, was sent on January 28, 2025.

The FOIA request specifically asked for copies of all emails and memos from the past 12 months that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. As part of our role in gathering and reporting news to the public, we at Peoria Standard are committed to holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Access to these public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities.

In light of our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional. We await the school district's response to our request.

In related news, according to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, while the state average administrative salary stood at $116,908. The average student-to-administrative ratio is reported as 141:1, with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 17:1. It's also noteworthy that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

As we continue to delve into matters concerning education in Illinois, we remain steadfast in our commitment to bring you accurate and comprehensive coverage.