On January 28, 2025, South Cook News sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Thornton School District 154 in Illinois. The request sought access to all emails and memos from the past year that contained the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study."
South Cook News is a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. As part of our commitment to transparency and accountability, we believe it is crucial to scrutinize public records.
In this particular request, we were interested in communications containing the terms "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study." Lucy Calkins is a renowned educator known for her work in developing literacy curriculum, while "Units of Study" likely refers to specific educational modules or programs.
As journalists, we rely heavily on access to public records to fulfill our professional responsibilities. This includes holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency for the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.
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.
Our FOIA request aims not only at promoting transparency but also at understanding how these educational terms relate to the broader context of education in Illinois. We will continue our efforts to keep the public informed about important developments within our local government institutions.
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