A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Rock Island – Milan School District #41 on January 28, 2025. The request, sent by a news reporter from Rock Island Today, asked for copies of all emails and memos from the past 12 months that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”.
As a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at Rock Island Today believe that 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.
The requested documents are sought under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. We have also requested these records in an electronic format for ease of dissemination.
In light of our role in gathering and reporting news to the public, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
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, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master’s degree or higher.
This information could potentially shed light on how educational resources are being utilized within our district. As always, we remain committed to bringing you comprehensive coverage on these important issues.
