Never-ending development may seem like it is just a given in our district.  Many of us moved here (or moved back here) to raise our families in a smaller school district with rural roots, away from the sprawling urban development that seems to be taking over the last vestiges of our farmlands.  While landowners sell to developers and the City of Elgin approves subdivisions, any plans to accommodate growth in our school district should keep our rural roots and landscape in mind.  Our local community should play a key part in those plans remembering:

• our older residents on fixed incomes (many who have been here their whole lives) that can't afford a huge tax burden
• younger families wishing for a close-knit, small community and school district
• farmers-both generational and new- providing much-needed crops, livestock, and jobs for our local community

Any plan to expand our school district in scope or size should be developed carefully with the full participation and knowledge of as many residents as possible.   Transparency and community engagement is the responsibility of our Board of Education.  Building A Better District hopes to bring those core values back into sharp focus for our Board members and help them realign their efforts with the community that elected them.