Quincy Reporter

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Payson Community Unit School District 1 on January 28, 2025. The request, made by Quincy Reporter, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, 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 ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability in public institutions, we at Quincy Reporter believe that access to these records is crucial for fulfilling our professional responsibilities. As members of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we have requested a fee waiver as a media professional.

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, with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 17:1. Interestingly enough, over half - 58% - of teachers in Illinois hold a master's degree or higher.

The FOIA request is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure transparency in educational institutions and shed light on their operations. We will continue to keep you updated as we receive more information.