On January 28, 2025, we at Rockford Sun submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the South Beloit Community Unit School District 320. The request was specifically for copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”.
As part of our commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we believe it is essential to have access to these public records. This information will enable us to fulfill our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
We are particularly interested in any communications that reference Lucy Calkins or Units of Study as these may provide insight into the district’s educational practices and curriculum decisions.
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. Notably, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master’s degree or higher.
As we continue our investigation into local education matters, we hope that this FOIA request will shed light on how resources are being allocated within South Beloit Community Unit School District 320 and how these decisions impact students’ learning experiences.
