On January 13, 2025, we at the Lake County Gazette sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Zion-Benton Township High School District 126. The request sought information regarding the number of non-U.S. citizens currently enrolled in the school district.
As part of our commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we believe that access to such public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
We requested this data under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, preferably in electronic format. As a media organization, we also indicated our eligibility for a fee waiver as media professionals involved in gathering and reporting news to the public.
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 will continue to keep you updated on this story as more information becomes available.
