On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Farmington Central Community Unit School District 265. The request, made by the 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 keywords specified in the request were "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". As a media organization dedicated to transparency and accountability in public institutions, we at the Peoria Standard believe that access to these records is essential for fulfilling our professional responsibilities.
The request also noted that as a member of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we are eligible for a fee waiver as per Illinois law.
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 report also highlighted that the average student-to-administrative ratio is 141:1 and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Notably, it was found that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
As we continue our work at Peoria Standard, we remain committed to holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to our readers.
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