McHenry Times

On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Prairie Grove Community School District 46 by the McHenry Times. The request sought access to copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study".

As representatives of McHenry Times, we are 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, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.

In our request, we emphasized our role as media professionals involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Given this role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.

Prairie Grove Community School District 46 Principal Dr. John Bute (2023) | Prairie Grove Community School District 46

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.

The requested documents will help shed light on various aspects related to these figures as well as other relevant issues concerning education in Illinois. We will continue our efforts towards promoting transparency and accountability within public institutions.