On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Pembroke Consolidated Community School District 259. The request, made by us at Sangamon Sun, sought access to all emails and memos from the past year containing specific keywords.
The keywords in question were "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". As a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive news coverage on local governmental affairs, we believe that access to these records is essential for fulfilling our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency for the public.
In our request, we argued for eligibility for a fee waiver as media professionals. We emphasized that our role in gathering and disseminating information to the public makes us eligible for such waivers under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.
It's worth noting some context regarding education in Illinois. According to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, while the state average administrative salary was $116,908. The average student-to-administrative ratio stands at 141:1, with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 17:1. Interestingly, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
As we await a response from Pembroke Consolidated Community School District 259, we remain committed to keeping you informed about this and other important local government matters.
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