West Cook News

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Schiller Park School District 81 in Illinois on January 28, 2025. The request, made by West Cook News, a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, sought copies of all emails and memos from the past year containing specific keywords.

The requested records are to include any documents that mention "Lucy Calkins" or "Units of Study." As stated in the request, these documents are sought under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140.

As members of the media at West Cook News, we play a crucial role in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is vital for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.

It's important to note that 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 is 141:1, and the average student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1. Additionally, it's worth mentioning that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

The requested information will help shed light on how these figures relate to communication within Schiller Park School District 81 and potentially provide insight into their educational practices and administrative decisions.