A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Grayville Community Unit School District 1 on January 28, 2025. The request, issued by SE Illinois News, sought access to all emails and memos from the past year containing specific keywords.
The requested documents were those containing the terms “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study.” As a media organization dedicated to comprehensive coverage of local government affairs, we at SE Illinois News believe that access to these records is crucial for maintaining transparency and holding public institutions accountable.
In our request, we also stated our eligibility for a fee waiver as a media professional. This is in line with our commitment to disseminating important information to the public without undue financial burden.
In relation to this, it's worth noting some key statistics about education in Illinois. According to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, while the state average administrative salary stood at $116,908. The average student-to-administrative ratio is 141:1, and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Interestingly, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
These figures provide context for our ongoing investigation into local educational affairs. As we continue our work at SE Illinois News, we remain committed to providing accurate news coverage that helps keep our community informed and engaged.
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