West Cook News

On January 13, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to Rhodes School District 84-5 by West Cook News, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. The request seeks to obtain information about the number of non-U.S. citizens currently enrolled in the school district.

The request was made under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, and the reporter has asked for the information in an electronic format. The purpose of this request is to gather data for a news report focusing on local governmental affairs.

As representatives from West Cook News, we believe that access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we have requested a fee waiver as media professionals.

In relation to this, it's important to note some key figures 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. Additionally, it's worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

We are waiting for a response from Rhodes School District 84-5 regarding our FOIA request.