Peoria Standard

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Morton Community Unit School District 709 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 request seeks copies of all emails and memos from the past 12 months that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. The information sought under this request is crucial for maintaining transparency in public institutions and holding them accountable.

As a media organization, we at Peoria Standard are deeply involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to such public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.

Morton Community Unit School District 709 Principal Craig Smock (2023) | Morton Community Unit School District 709

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, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

We await a positive response from Morton Community Unit School District 709 regarding our FOIA request. We remain committed to providing comprehensive coverage on local governmental affairs with accuracy and transparency.