On January 13, 2025, we at the Lake County Gazette sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Diamond Lake School District 76. The purpose of this request was to gain insight into the number of non-U.S. citizens, also referred to as "migrants" or "illegal aliens," currently enrolled in the school district.
As part of our ongoing commitment to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we believe it is essential to have access to such public records. This information allows us to fulfill our professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
We requested this data in electronic format under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. As a media organization, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver for this request.
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. Furthermore, it's noteworthy that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.
Our mission at Lake County Gazette remains focused on providing our readers with transparent and factual reporting on issues affecting our community. We look forward to sharing more updates as we receive responses from Diamond Lake School District 76 regarding our FOIA request.
Alerts Sign-up