A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Alden-Hebron School District 19 on January 28, 2025. The request was made by us at McHenry Times, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request specifically asked for copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. These records were requested under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, preferably in an electronic format.
As a media organization, we are deeply involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is crucial 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 believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
In related news, 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, and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Interestingly enough, it’s reported that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master’s degree or higher.
We will continue to keep you updated as we await response from Alden-Hebron School District 19 regarding our FOIA request.
