Rockford Sun

On January 28, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Hononegah Community High School District 207. The request, made by the Rockford Sun, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, sought copies of all emails and memos from the past 12 months containing specific keywords.

The keywords in question were "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study". The request was made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. The requester preferred to receive these records in an electronic format.

As members of the media, we at Rockford Sun are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.

Hononegah Community High School District 207 Principal Mr. Michael Dugan (2023) | Hononegah Community High School District 207

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. It's worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

The FOIA request underscores our commitment at Rockford Sun towards ensuring transparency within our local institutions while shedding light on matters of public interest.