Transparecy and Teacher Layoffs

SouthTownStar looks into school district spending amid growing talks of layoffs.

by Kate Piercy

The SouthtownStar has been looking into south suburb school district spending over the last week amid growing talks of teacher layoffs and cutting school programs. The paper sent FOIA requests to 18 towns and 25 school districts asking for information such as employees’ salaries, overtime pay and administrators’ credit card expenses. 

Check out what they found, and see other reports from this week too, detailing spending items such as $1,370 on non-conference related lunches and refreshments at school board meetings, $1,113 on Matteson hotel rooms for superintendent and school board members, $1,000 for late credit card payments, and $214 for gifts and “get-well” wishes.

Are your school districts transparent? Do you know what they are spending money on and could some of that spending be cut in order to keep important programs or good teachers? Check out these resources in case you want to see more transparency from your local government.