On January 28, 2025, North Egypt News submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Woodlawn Unit School District 209 Board. The request pertains to any emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study".
North Egypt News is a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. As part of our mission, we have requested these records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, preferably in electronic format.
The keywords mentioned in our request are likely related to educational materials or teaching methods used within the district. Lucy Calkins is a well-known educator and author who has developed a series of educational programs known as "Units of Study". By requesting these documents, we aim to provide transparency about how these programs are being implemented within the school district.
As members of the media, we believe it's essential for us to have access to public records. This enables 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.
We will continue to follow this story closely and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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