On January 28, 2025, we at Sangamon Sun sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Athens Community Unit School District 213. The request was made 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, 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.
We believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. We await the response from Athens Community Unit School District 213 regarding this request.
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, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
These statistics shed light on the current state of education in Illinois. Accessing information about specific educational methods or programs such as those mentioned in our FOIA request will provide further insight into how these resources are being utilized within our schools.
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