West Cook News

On January 13, 2025, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Oak Park Elementary School District 97 in Illinois. The request, sent by West Cook News, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, asked for specific data about the enrollment numbers of non-U.S. citizens within the school district.

In the FOIA request, West Cook News sought to find out how many "migrants" (e.g., illegal aliens/non-U.S. citizens) are currently enrolled in the school district. The media organization emphasized its role in gathering and reporting news to the public and highlighted that access to public records is essential for them to fulfill their professional responsibilities. These responsibilities include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.

West Cook News believes that as a member of the media involved in disseminating information, they are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.

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. It's worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

The FOIA request underscores West Cook News' commitment to keeping local communities informed about key issues affecting their educational institutions. It also highlights the importance of transparency from public bodies regarding demographic information within their institutions.