On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Gallatin Community Unit School District 7. The request, issued by SE Illinois News, sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study".
As part of our commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at SE Illinois News are dedicated to holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Access to these records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities.
In addition to the specific keywords, we requested that these documents be provided in an electronic format. As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver.
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.
We await response from Gallatin Community Unit School District 7 regarding this FOIA request. We continue our mission of ensuring transparency within our local government bodies while keeping our readers informed about developments within their communities.
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