On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Zeigler-Royalton Community Unit School District 188. The request was made by North Egypt News, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request sought copies of all emails and memos from the past 12 months that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. As members of the media, we at North Egypt News believe access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
Given our role in disseminating information, we requested a fee waiver as a media professional. This practice is common when media organizations seek information under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140.
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, it's worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
This FOIA request aligns with our commitment at North Egypt News to provide comprehensive coverage on local government affairs. We look forward to sharing more information as it becomes available.
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