SE Illinois News

On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Edwards County Community Unit School District 1. The request, submitted by SE Illinois News, seeks access to all emails and memos from the past year that contain specific keywords.

The two key phrases specified in the request are "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". The requester from SE Illinois News is asking for these records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. They have requested that the information be provided in an electronic format if possible.

SE Illinois News has made this request as part of their commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. As a media organization, they believe they play a crucial role in holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given their role in disseminating information, they have requested a fee waiver as a media professional.

Edwards County Community Unit School District 1 Principal Mr. David Cowger (2023) | Edwards County Community Unit School District 1

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. Notably, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

As we at SE Illinois News continue our efforts to bring light to important issues within our community's educational system, we remain committed to using every tool at our disposal - including FOIA requests - to ensure transparency and accountability.