A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Bradford Community Unit School District 1 on January 28, 2025. The request, made by Peoria Standard, a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage of local governmental affairs, asked for copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study."
As members of the media at Peoria Standard, we are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is essential 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.
The requested information will shed light on the district's communication regarding "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study," potentially revealing insights into their educational practices or curriculum decisions.
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. Interestingly enough, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
This data highlights the commitment of Illinois' education system towards maintaining a high standard of education for its students. However, it also raises questions about resource allocation within schools and districts - questions that could be answered by analyzing correspondence like those requested from Bradford Community Unit School District 1.
We await a response from Bradford Community Unit School District 1 regarding our FOIA request.
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