A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Paw Paw Community Unit School District 271 on January 28, 2025. The request, made by NW Illinois News, sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained specific keywords.
The keywords specified in the request were "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". These terms are often associated with educational materials and teaching methodologies. As a news organization dedicated to comprehensive coverage of local government affairs, we at NW Illinois News believe that access to these records is crucial for providing transparency to the public and holding public institutions accountable.
In addition to requesting these records, we also asked for a fee waiver as a media professional. This is based on our role in gathering and disseminating information to the public.
According to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, while 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. Furthermore, it's worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
This data highlights the importance of understanding how educational resources are utilized within our schools. By examining communications related to key educational terms like "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study", we hope to gain further insight into how these resources are being implemented in our local schools.
We look forward to sharing our findings with you once we receive a response from Paw Paw Community Unit School District 271.
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