A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Western Springs School District 101 in Illinois on January 13, 2025. The request, made by us at West Cook News, sought information regarding the number of non-U.S. citizens currently enrolled in the school district.
In our capacity as a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we are particularly interested in understanding the demographics of our local schools. This includes the number of “migrants” (e.g., illegal aliens/non-U.S. citizens) that are currently enrolled in the district’s schools.
As we continue to gather and report news to the public, access to such public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These responsibilities include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency 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. Interestingly, 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master’s degree or higher.
These statistics provide a backdrop against which we can better understand and contextualize any data received from Western Springs School District 101 regarding their enrollment numbers of non-U.S. citizens.
We believe that as a media professional organization, we are eligible for a fee waiver when making such requests under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140). We look forward to receiving this information in an electronic format as soon as possible so that we can continue with our mission of informing and educating our readers about important local issues.
