BABD has reviewed the findings of RSP & Associates and based on their 90-page report, has the following observations and recommendations at this time:

• The growth and enrollment projections for the next five years prepared by RSP appear defensible and likely accurate. They mirror our own projections very closely. As such, we do believe that planning for the next five years based on these numbers is a reasonable and valid approach.

• From year 6 to 10, the commentary in the report increasingly begins using terms like “could be” or “up to”.  We understand this degree of variability, as no firm like RSP can predict the future with such clarity. For this reason, RSP will not guarantee their enrollment forecast beyond 1-5 years. 

• RSP's projections for years 6-10 are heavily dependent on the construction of a single subdivision: Pingree Creek by a developer named Shodeen Corp. While this development COULD add many homes to the district over its lifetime of development, there have been no assurances by either the City of Elgin, nor Shodeen, that the development will in fact happen, when it might happen, and at what pace it will happen, if it does. The exact mix of housing types in this development - which would affect student yield - has also not been finalized and possible challenges with infrastructure improvements were also noted by RSP.  As recently as May 2024, Shodeen was in discussion with the Village of Pingree Grove about selling 90 +/- acres of the planned Pingree Creek development.  

Click the image to access RSP's full report.