A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to Sandridge School District 172 in Illinois on January 13, 2025, by South Cook News. The request sought information about the number of non-U.S. citizens, referred to as "migrants" in the request, currently enrolled in the school district.
As a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at South Cook News believe that access to public records is essential for fulfilling our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
In our role as journalists disseminating information, we have requested a fee waiver for this information under the provisions of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140.
The context of this request comes amidst discussions about educational resources and allocation within Illinois schools. 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.
As we continue our mission to inform and educate our readership about important local issues such as these, we will await a response from Sandridge School District 172 regarding our FOIA request.
Alerts Sign-up