On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Saratoga Community Consolidated School District 60c. The request was made by Grundy Reporter, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The FOIA request seeks copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. The intention behind this request is to gather information for news reporting purposes, as access to public records is crucial for journalists in their role of holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
Grundy Reporter believes it is eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional given its role in disseminating information. The organization has expressed its commitment to fulfilling its professional responsibilities which include ensuring accountability in public institutions and providing transparency to the public.
According to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, while the state average administrative salary stood at $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 our work at Grundy Reporter, we believe that access to such information not only aids our journalistic endeavors but also serves as an important tool for promoting transparency within our community. We await a response from Saratoga Community Consolidated School District 60c regarding our FOIA request.
