On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Scales Mound Community Unit School District 211. The request, made by NW Illinois News, sought access to copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”.
As a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at NW Illinois News believe that access to public records is crucial for fulfilling our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
The requested documents are expected to shed light on internal communications within the school district concerning these specific topics. As members of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we have requested a fee waiver as part of this FOIA request.
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, it’s worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master’s degree or higher.
We await response from Scales Mound Community Unit School District 211 regarding our request. Our goal remains consistent – ensuring transparency and accountability in our local institutions.
