On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Alwood Community Unit School District 225. The request, issued by Rock Island Today, a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year containing specific keywords.
The two keywords specified in the request were "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". These terms may relate to educational programs or initiatives within the school district.
As stated in the request, Rock Island Today believes that access to public records is essential for fulfilling its professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given their role in disseminating information, they believe they 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. Furthermore, it's noteworthy that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
It remains to be seen what impact this FOIA request will have on Alwood Community Unit School District 225 or how it might influence ongoing discussions about education policy and practice within Illinois.
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