On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Eldorado Community Unit School District 4 in Illinois. The request, submitted by SE Illinois News, sought access to all emails and memos from the past year containing the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study."
As part of their commitment to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, SE Illinois News requested these records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. The media organization believes that access to public records is essential for fulfilling their professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
SE Illinois News further stated their eligibility for a fee waiver as a media professional involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. They have expressed their intent to use this information responsibly for news dissemination purposes.
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 noteworthy that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
The Eldorado Community Unit School District 4 has yet to respond to this FOIA request. As we continue our mission at SE Illinois News to provide comprehensive coverage on local governmental affairs, we believe that such transparency is crucial for holding our institutions accountable.
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