South Cook News

On January 28, 2025, South Cook News, a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage of local governmental affairs, submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Rich Township High School District 227. The request sought access to all emails and memos from the past year containing the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study".

The request was made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, with a preference for an electronic format. As members of the media involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, 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.

Given our role in disseminating information, we consider ourselves eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals. This request is part of our ongoing commitment to scrutinize public institutions and ensure they operate in a transparent manner.

According to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, while the state average administrative salary stood at $116,908. The average student-to-administrative ratio is reported as being 141:1, with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 17:1. Notably, it's been recorded that about 58% of teachers in Illinois hold a master's degree or higher.

This data underscores the importance of maintaining transparency within our educational institutions. It also highlights why it's necessary for us at South Cook News to continue seeking out and sharing this kind of information with the public. We will continue updating you on developments regarding this FOIA request.