A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Bellwood School District 88 on January 28, 2025. The request, made by West Cook News, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contained specific keywords.
The keywords specified in the request were “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study”. The purpose of this FOIA request is to gather information for reporting news to the public. Access to these public records is essential for West Cook News to fulfill its professional responsibilities, which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
As a media organization, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as per the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140. This act encourages access to public records for purposes of disseminating information 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. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master’s degree or higher.
The outcome of this FOIA request could provide valuable insights into local educational policies and practices. As always, our aim at West Cook News is to ensure transparency and accountability within our local government institutions.
