Kane County Reporter

On January 13, 2025, we at Kane County Reporter submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to East Aurora School District 131. The purpose of the request was to obtain information regarding the number of non-U.S. citizens currently enrolled in the school district.

In our role as a media organization dedicated to comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, we believe it is essential to have access to public records. This not only enables us to fulfill our professional responsibilities but also aids in holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.

The specific request pertained to the number of "migrants" (defined as illegal aliens or non-U.S. citizens) currently enrolled in East Aurora School District 131. We requested this information under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, 5 ILCS 140, preferably in an electronic format.

As part of our commitment to transparency and accountability, we also requested a fee waiver given our role as a media professional involved in gathering and reporting news 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, it's worth noting that 58% of teachers in Illinois have a master's degree or higher.

We look forward to receiving a response from East Aurora School District 131 regarding our FOIA request and will continue our efforts towards promoting transparency within local government institutions.