Rock Island Today

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Sherrard Community Unit School District 200 on January 28, 2025. The request, sent by Rock Island Today, a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage of local governmental affairs, seeks access to specific records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.

The requested records include copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. As a media organization, we at Rock Island Today are committed to gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to these public records is crucial for 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 a media professional. This access will allow us to continue our work in providing comprehensive coverage on local governmental affairs.

Sherrard Community Unit School District 200 Principal Dr. Carl Johnson (2023) | Sherrard Community Unit School District 200

In relation to this request, it's worth noting some statistics about education in Illinois. According to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, while the state average administrative salary was $116,908. The average student-to-administrative ratio stands at 141:1, with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 17:1. Additionally, it's reported that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

We await a response from Sherrard Community Unit School District 200 regarding our FOIA request. We remain committed to delivering accurate and timely news reports on local government affairs for our readership.