A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Carmi-White County Community Unit School District 5 regarding specific emails and memos dated within the past year. The request was sent by SE Illinois News, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, on January 28, 2025.
The requested documents are those that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. As a news organization, we at SE Illinois News are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which 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. Interestingly enough, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
As we continue our work in promoting transparency and accountability in local government affairs, we hope that this FOIA request will shed light on important issues within our educational system.
Alerts Sign-up