West Cook News

On January 28, 2025, we at West Cook News submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to Berwyn North School District 98. The request was for copies of all emails and memos from the past year that contain the keywords "Lucy Calkins" and "Units of Study."

As a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, access to public records is crucial for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency for the public.

We believe that we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Our aim with this FOIA request is to gather information that will help us provide our readers with an accurate picture of how their local government operates.

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, and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Interestingly, over half (58%) of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

The requested documents will help us further understand how these figures translate into daily operations within Berwyn North School District 98. We look forward to receiving this information promptly so we can continue providing our readers with comprehensive coverage of local governmental affairs.