On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Blue Ridge Community Unit School District 18. The request was made by us at Macon Reporter, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request seeks copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". This information is sought under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, preferably in an electronic format.
As part of our role in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to these public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These 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 media professionals.
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.
We at Macon Reporter will continue to keep you updated as this story develops.
Alerts Sign-up