West Cook News

On January 28, 2025, West Cook News submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Rhodes School District 84-5. The request was for copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study."

As part of our commitment to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at West Cook News are dedicated to providing transparency to the public. Access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable.

The request specifically sought documents containing references to "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study." These terms are likely related to educational programs or initiatives within the district. However, without access to the requested documents, their exact relevance remains unclear.

In addition to requesting these records, we also asked for a fee waiver as a media professional. This waiver would facilitate our work in gathering and reporting news to the public.

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 enough, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

This data underscores the importance of transparency in how our schools operate. By examining these records, we hope to provide a clearer picture of how resources are being allocated within our education system.

We await a response from Rhodes School District 84-5 regarding this FOIA request.