On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Mount Zion Community Unit School District 3. The request was made by 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". As stated in the request, access to these public records is essential for Macon Reporter's professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
Macon Reporter also requested a fee waiver as a media professional, given their role in disseminating information to the public. This is a common practice under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, which encourages transparency and accountability in public institutions.
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.
This data underscores our commitment at Macon Reporter to hold educational institutions accountable for their actions and decisions. It is our belief that transparency fosters better decision-making processes within these institutions and promotes a healthier democracy overall.
We will continue our work in gathering and reporting news related to local governmental affairs while promoting transparency through requests like this one under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.
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