A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Mount Vernon Township High School District 201 in Illinois on January 28, 2025. The request, sent by North Egypt News, a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, seeks access to all emails and memos from the past year containing the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study.”
As representatives of North Egypt News, we are committed to providing transparency to the public and holding public institutions accountable. Access to these records is crucial for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. We have requested these documents under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, preferably in an electronic format.
In our role as journalists, we are actively involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Given this role in disseminating information, we believe we qualify 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.
We will continue our pursuit of transparency within our local government institutions and keep you updated on any developments regarding this FOIA request.
