On January 13, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Community High School District 128 in Illinois. The request, issued by the Lake County Gazette, sought information about the number of non-U.S. citizens currently enrolled in the school district.
The Lake County Gazette is a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. In line with its commitment to transparency and accountability, it has requested these records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140.
The request specifically asked for data on how many "migrants" (e.g., illegal aliens/non-U.S. citizens) are currently enrolled in the school district. As a media organization involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to such public records is crucial for fulfilling professional responsibilities.
As we at Lake County Gazette continue our work in holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
In relation to this, it's worth noting some recent statistics about education in Illinois. 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, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
We await a response from Community High School District 128 regarding our request and will keep our readers updated with any developments.
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