Peoria Standard

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Dunlap Community Unit School District 323 regarding emails and memos dated from the past year. The request was made on January 28, 2025.

As representatives of Peoria Standard, a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage of local governmental affairs, we requested records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. Specifically, we asked for copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”.

Our work as a media organization involves gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is crucial for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.

In relation to 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 stood at $116,908. The average student-to-administrative ratio is 141:1, and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Furthermore, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

These figures provide valuable context as we continue our investigation into local educational matters within Dunlap Community Unit School District 323.