On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Kewanee Community Unit School District 229. The request, issued by Rock Island Today, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study."
The Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) provides for public access to government documents and records. As a media organization, Rock Island Today stated in its request that access to these public records is essential for fulfilling its professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
In addition to this, Rock Island Today also requested a fee waiver as a media professional involved in gathering and reporting news to the public.
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.
The outcome of this FOIA request could provide valuable insights into how education policy decisions are made within Kewanee Community Unit School District 229. It will help us at Rock Island Today continue our mission of providing comprehensive coverage on local governmental affairs.
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