South Cook News

On January 28, 2025, South Cook News sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Burnham School District 154-5. The request sought access to all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study."

As a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we at South Cook News believe in the importance of transparency in public institutions. Access to these records is crucial for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable.

In our request, we highlighted our role as media professionals involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. We believe this makes us eligible for a fee waiver under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.

Burnham School District 154-5 Principal Mr. Stephen Geraci (2023) | Burnham School District 154-5

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, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

Our aim with this FOIA request is not only to shed light on specific matters within Burnham School District 154-5 but also contribute towards a broader understanding of educational practices and administrative operations within our state's school systems.