On January 28, 2025, Southern Illinois News submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Cairo Community Unit School District 1. The request sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained specific keywords.
The keywords specified were "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". As a news organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate coverage of local governmental affairs, Southern Illinois News believes that access to these records is crucial for maintaining transparency with the public and holding public institutions accountable.
The request was made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, and Southern Illinois News expressed a preference for receiving the records in an electronic format. In addition, as a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, Southern Illinois News requested a fee waiver for this information.
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. Interestingly enough, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
At Southern Illinois News we believe that these statistics underscore the importance of transparency in our educational institutions. Access to public records such as those requested from Cairo Community Unit School District 1 allows us to better understand how our schools operate and where resources are being allocated.
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