A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Pennoyer School District 79 regarding emails and memos on January 28, 2025. The request was made by North Cook News, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The specific request was for copies of all emails and memos from the past 12 months that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. These terms may be related to curriculum or teaching methods used within the district.
North Cook News has expressed its role in gathering and reporting news to the public as essential for fulfilling professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. As such, they believe they 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 our work at North Cook News, access to such records is vital in maintaining transparency between educational institutions like Pennoyer School District 79 and the public. It allows us to hold these institutions accountable while ensuring that we provide our readers with comprehensive and accurate news coverage.
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