A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to J. Sterling Morton High School District 201 on January 28, 2025 by West Cook News, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The request specifically sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords “Lucy Calkins” and “Units of Study.” The intention behind this request is to gather information for news reporting purposes, as part of West Cook News’ commitment to holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
As members of the media, we at West Cook News believe access to public records is essential in fulfilling our professional responsibilities. We also requested a fee waiver as media professionals, citing our role in disseminating information to the public.
According to the Illinois Report Card, the average state teacher salary in 2023 was $73,916, while the state average administrative salary was $116,908. The average student-to-administrative ratio stands at 141:1, with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 17:1. Notably, 58% of teachers in Illinois hold a master’s degree or higher.
We await a response from J. Sterling Morton High School District 201 regarding our FOIA request and will continue to report on this matter as more information becomes available.
