Lake County Gazette

On January 13, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Deerfield School District 109 in Illinois by the Lake County Gazette. The request seeks 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 at the Lake County Gazette have requested these records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. We have asked for this data preferably in an electronic format.

The purpose of this request is to gather and report news to the public about local educational institutions. Access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. As a media organization involved in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.

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. Interestingly enough, it was found that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

We will continue to keep you updated as we receive more information regarding our FOIA request from Deerfield School District 109.