On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Rock Falls Township High School District 301. The request, made by NW Illinois News, seeks access to all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study".
As a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at NW Illinois News believe in the importance of transparency and accountability in public institutions. This request is part of our ongoing effort to provide the public with information about their local schools.
The requested documents are sought under the provisions of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. We have requested these records preferably in an electronic format for ease of access and dissemination. As a media outlet involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we have also requested a fee waiver.
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 report also revealed that the average student-to-administrative ratio is 141:1, and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Furthermore, it was found that 58% of teachers in Illinois hold a master's degree or higher.
We await a response from Rock Falls Township High School District 301 regarding our FOIA request.