South Cook News

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Ford Heights School District 169 in Illinois on January 13, 2025, by South Cook News. The request sought information regarding the number of non-U.S. citizens, referred to as "migrants," currently enrolled in the school district.

As a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at South Cook News believe that access to public records is crucial for fulfilling our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.

We also requested a fee waiver as a media professional, stating that our role in disseminating information makes us eligible for such a waiver.

In relation to this, 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, 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. Furthermore, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

This FOIA request forms part of our ongoing efforts to shed light on various aspects of local governance and public institutions. We will continue to seek and share information that promotes transparency and accountability within our community.