A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Elmwood Community Unit School District 322 regarding emails and memos on January 28, 2025. The request was made by a news reporter from Peoria Standard, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The requested records specifically include copies of all emails and memos from the past 12 months that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. These documents are being sought under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, with a preference for electronic format delivery.
At Peoria Standard, we believe access to public records is essential for fulfilling our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. As members of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we have requested a fee waiver as media professionals.
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, it's noted that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
As we continue our work at Peoria Standard to bring transparency and accountability to local government affairs, we will be closely following up on this FOIA request. We believe that understanding how educational materials are chosen and implemented is crucial for assessing our education system's effectiveness.
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