A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Harvard Community Unit School District 50 in Illinois on January 28, 2025. The request was made by McHenry Times, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request specifically sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. As a media organization, we are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which 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 media professionals.
In relation to this, it’s worth noting some statistics about 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 is 141:1, and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Furthermore, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master’s degree or higher.
This data provides context for our ongoing investigations into local educational matters. As always, we remain committed to providing transparency and holding public institutions accountable through diligent reporting.
