South West Illinois News

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Columbia Community Unit School District 4 in Illinois on January 28, 2025. The request was made by SW Illinois News, a media organization committed 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 contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". As part of our role as a media organization, we believe it is essential to have access to public records. This allows us to fulfill our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.

We at SW Illinois News have requested these documents preferably in electronic format under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.

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.

As we continue to gather and report news related to local governmental affairs, access to such records is vital. We remain committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage for our readership.