Public Record Requests
TRS is pleased to announce a new way of requesting public records from the System through the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. This new system will help TRS better administer and manage the many FOIA requests the System receives each month. The public also will find a “knowledgebase library” with answers to common questions about TRS.
TRS responds to all public record requests in compliance with the Illinois FOIA law, 5 ILCS 140. If any requested records will be used for a commercial purpose, it must be disclosed in the request. If in-person record inspection is desired, please make prior arrangements through the FOIA Officer.
Submit public record requests here.
Designated FOIA Officer
Cynthia Fain
Senior Assistant General Counsel & FOIA Officer
Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois
2815 West Washington
PO Box 19253
Springfield, Illinois 62794-9253
Email: FOIAofficer@trs.illinois.gov
Brief description as required by Illinois FOIA, 5 ILCS 140/4
Purpose
The Illinois General Assembly created TRS in 1939 for the purpose of providing retirement annuities, disability and survivor benefits for educators employed in public schools outside of the city of Chicago. The System’s enabling legislation is in the Illinois Pension Code at 40 ILCS 5/16-101.
Membership
TRS members are all full-time, part-time, and substitute Illinois public school personnel employed outside the city of Chicago in positions requiring certification by the Illinois State Board of Education. Persons employed in certain state agencies relating to education are also TRS members. As of June 30, 2012, there were 162,217 active members, 99,052 inactive members, and 105,447 annuitants and beneficiaries.
Operating Budget
The total TRS operating budget for fiscal year 2013 is $25,504,296, which represents less than 0.1 percent of the $36.8 billion market value of the total TRS fund on June 30, 2012.
Key Statutory Provisions
The benefits that TRS administers are governmental plans as defined in Internal Revenue Code Section 414(d). The System is a 401(a) qualified plan. TRS benefits are governed by Article 16 of the Illinois Pension Code, 40 ILCS 5/16. TRS administrative rules are in Title 80, Subtitle D, Chapter III, Part 1650 of the Illinois Administrative Code. TRS is also subject to other laws, rules, and regulations as an agency of the State of Illinois.
Offices
TRS has two office locations. The main offices are at 2815 West Washington, Springfield, Illinois. A regional office is at 4200 Commerce Court, Lisle, Illinois.
Employees
As provided in 40 ILCS 5/16-169, the TRS board of trustees employs a chief executive officer responsible for the detailed administration of the System. TRS has approximately 174 full-time and three part-time staff.
Functional Subdivisions
Departmental Contacts
Executive Staff Names and Email Addresses
Richard W. Ingram, Executive Director |
executive_director@trs.illinois.gov |
Jana Bergschneider, Director of Administration |
director_of_administration@trs.illinois.gov |
Kathy Boehme, Communications Manager |
communications_manager@trs.illinois.gov |
Cynthia Fain, Senior Assistant General Counsel/FOIA Officer |
FOIAofficer@trs.illinois.gov |
Kathleen Farney, Director of Research |
director_of_research@trs.illinois.gov |
Rich Frankenfeld, Director of Outreach |
director_of_outreach@trs.illinois.gov |
Tom Gray, General Counsel |
general_counsel@trs.illinois.gov |
Gina Larkin, Director of Human Resources |
director_of_human_resources@trs.illinois.gov |
Stan Rupnik, Chief Investment Officer |
chief_investment_officer@trs.illinois.gov |
Sally Sherman, Director of Member Services |
director_of_member_services@trs.illinois.gov |
Stacy Smith, Director of Internal Audit |
director_of_internal_audit@trs.illinois.gov |
Dave Urbanek, Director of Communications |
public_information_officer@trs.illinois.gov |
Board
A 13-member board of trustees is responsible for the general administration of the System as authorized by 40 ILCS 5/16-163. Under 40 ILCS 5/16-165, the board is composed of the Illinois State Superintendent of Education, ex officio, who is the board president; six persons appointed by the Illinois governor who are not members of the System and who do not hold elected state office; four active members elected by the active members; and two annuitants elected by the annuitants.
Trustee Name |
Residence |
Appointed/Elected |
1st Term Began |
Current Term Expires |
Christopher Koch, Ed.D.
President |
Bloomington |
Ex-officio |
Dec. 2006 |
Ex-officio, term runs concurrent with State Superintendent appointment |
Molly Phalen
Vice President |
Rockford |
Elected |
July 1997 |
July 2013 |
Michael Busby |
Kenilworth |
Gubernatorial Appointment |
June 2009 |
July 2016 |
Marcia Campbell |
O'Fallon |
Gubernatorial Appointment |
Oct. 2009 |
July 2014 |
Jan Cleveland |
Carmi |
Elected |
July 1997 |
July 2013 |
Cinda Klickna |
Rochester |
Elected |
Feb. 2003 |
July 2015 |
Sharon Leggett |
Evanston |
Elected |
July 1999 |
July 2015 |
Bob Lyons |
Hoffman Estates |
Elected |
July 2005 |
July 2013 |
Cynthia O'Neill |
Carlyle |
Elected |
July 1999 |
July 2015 |
Janice Reedus |
Indian Head Park |
Gubernatorial Appointment |
June 2009 |
July 2016 |
Enrique M. Vasquez |
Cary |
Gubernatorial Appointment |
Sept. 2012 |
July 2014 |
Sonia Walwyn |
Naperville |
Gubernatorial Appointment |
June 2009 |
July 2016 |
Information Immediately Available
General and detailed information about TRS is available on the TRS website: http://trs.illinois.gov, such as staff and board directories, membership, funding, administrative structure and budget, financial and actuarial reports, member brochures and publications, employer information, legislative matters, investments, board meeting notices and agendas, recordings and minutes, administrative review decisions and rules, an online pressroom, and information about doing business with TRS.
Fees
There is no charge for electronic records. For paper copies of records, the first 50 pages are provided free of charge, in excess of 50 is $.15 per page. TRS reserves the right to charge for shipping expenses to send paper copies. Charges may be reduced or waived for requests in the public interest.
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