DeKalb Times

On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Sycamore Community Unit School District 427. The request, filed by DeKalb Times, sought access to all emails and memos from the past year containing specific keywords.

The keywords in question were "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". As a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at DeKalb Times believe that access to these records is essential for fulfilling our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.

In addition to the records request, we also applied for a fee waiver as a media professional. This waiver would help us continue our mission of disseminating information without undue financial burden.

As we await response from the Sycamore Community Unit School District 427 regarding this FOIA request, it's worth noting some statistics about education in Illinois. 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 stands at 141:1, and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Furthermore, it's interesting to note that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

These figures highlight the importance of our work at DeKalb Times in ensuring transparency and accountability within our educational institutions. As we continue our investigation into topics like these through FOIA requests and other journalistic tools, we remain committed to bringing you comprehensive coverage on matters that impact our community.