On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the West Central Community Unit School District 235. The request was made by the Galesburg Reporter, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. The request specifically asked for these records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, preferably in an electronic format.
As members of the media at Galesburg Reporter, we are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.
According to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, and 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.
We will continue to keep you updated as more information becomes available regarding this FOIA request.
