On January 13, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Big Hollow Middle School in Illinois by the Lake County Gazette. The request pertains to the number of non-U.S. citizens currently enrolled in the school district.
The Lake County Gazette, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, made this request under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. The organization specifically requested information on how many "migrants" (e.g., illegal aliens/non-U.S. citizens) are currently enrolled in the school district.
At the Lake County Gazette, we believe that access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, we consider ourselves eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
In related news, 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 also worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
We will continue our efforts to bring light to important matters concerning our local educational institutions and remain committed to serving our community with accurate and timely information.
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