South Cook News

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 regarding copies of all emails and memos from the past year containing specific keywords. The request was made by South Cook News, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, on January 28, 2025.

The requested records are expected to contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study.” These terms are commonly associated with literacy education programs used in many school districts across the country. As a media organization, we at South Cook News are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to these public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.

In addition, we believe that we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional due to our role in disseminating information. We have asked for these records preferably in electronic format for ease of access and analysis.

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. It's worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

We hope that this request will help shed light on important aspects of our local education system and provide valuable insights into how resources are being allocated within our schools.