On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Community Consolidated School District 59. The request, issued by DuPage Policy Journal, sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study."
As representatives of DuPage Policy Journal, we are committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. Access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
The specific documents requested will help shed light on internal communications within the school district regarding Lucy Calkins and Units of Study. Lucy Calkins is a well-known educator and author who has developed a series of Units of Study books for teaching reading and writing skills in grades K-8.
In related news, 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. Interestingly enough, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
We believe that as media professionals engaged in gathering and reporting news to the public, we are eligible for a fee waiver under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. We eagerly await a response from Community Consolidated School District 59 regarding our request.
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