On January 28, 2025, South Cook News, a media organization committed to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Palos Heights School District 128. The request sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study."
South Cook News believes access to these public records is essential for fulfilling its professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given its role in disseminating information, South Cook News requested a fee waiver as a media professional.
According to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, and the 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. Furthermore, it was reported that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
The requested documents are expected to shed light on internal communications within Palos Heights School District 128 over the past year concerning Lucy Calkins and Units of Study. This could provide valuable insights into the district's approach towards education and curriculum development.
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