Macon Reporter

On January 28, 2025, we at Macon Reporter submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Sullivan Community Unit School District 300. The request was specifically for copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study."

As a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we believe that access to 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 requested a fee waiver as media professionals.

This request is part of our ongoing effort to investigate educational practices within Illinois schools. The terms "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study" are related to a popular literacy curriculum used in many schools across the nation.

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.

We at Macon Reporter remain committed to ensuring transparency within our local institutions. We will continue to provide updates on this FOIA request as more information becomes available.