On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Odell Community Consolidated School District 435. The request was made by McLean County Times, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The request seeks copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". As part of our mission at McLean County Times, we aim to provide transparency and hold public institutions accountable. Access to these records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities.
In line with this mission, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional. We eagerly await the school district's response to our request.
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.
This data underscores the importance of our work at McLean County Times in scrutinizing public records such as those requested from Odell Community Consolidated School District 435. It allows us to keep public institutions accountable and ensure that resources are being utilized effectively for the benefit of students.
We remain committed to reporting accurately on local governmental affairs and providing comprehensive news coverage for our readers.
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