A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Okaw Valley Community Unit School District 302 on January 28, 2025. The request, made by the Macon Reporter, sought access to all emails and memos from the past year that contained specific keywords.
The Macon Reporter is a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. As part of our ongoing efforts to promote transparency and hold public institutions accountable, we requested records containing the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. These terms are presumably related to educational materials or curricula used within the school district.
As journalists, we rely heavily on access to public records to fulfill our professional responsibilities. In this regard, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140.
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 our work in providing transparency and accountability within our local government institutions.
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