On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Williamsfield Community Unit School District 210. The request was made by the Galesburg Reporter, a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request seeks copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. The Galesburg Reporter has requested these records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, preferably in an electronic format.
As representatives of the Galesburg Reporter, we 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. Given our role in disseminating information, we consider ourselves 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. Interestingly enough, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master’s degree or higher.
This FOIA request represents another step towards greater transparency within our education system. As we continue our reporting work at Galesburg Reporter, we remain committed to keeping our community informed about important issues affecting local government and education.
