On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Marengo-Union Elementary Consolidated District 165. The request was made by McHenry Times, a media organization committed 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 12 months that contain 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.
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 FOIA request forms part of our ongoing commitment at McHenry Times to ensure transparency within our local government institutions. We will continue striving to keep our readers informed about significant developments in this area.
Alerts Sign-up