On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Ashton-Franklin Center CUSD #275. The request, made by NW Illinois News, seeks access to emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study".
The request was made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. As a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at NW Illinois News believe access to these public records is essential for fulfilling our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
In addition to the request for specific documents, we have also requested a fee waiver as a media professional. This is based on our role in gathering and reporting news 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 stands at 141:1 and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Interestingly, over half (58%) of teachers in Illinois have earned a master's degree or higher.
As we continue our investigation into local governmental affairs, we will keep you updated with any significant developments arising from this FOIA request.
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