Grayslake district opts against study

Grayslake Elementary District 46 wants to know how many children might attend its schools in the future, but getting updated, accurate numbers is tricky business.

With that in mind, school board members agreed this week to hold off on seeking another demographic study by consultant John Kasarda, a University of North Carolina management professor. The report would have cost about $10,000.

Board members said part of the problem in getting solid housing projections is that village officials in Round Lake and Grayslake don't have a complete grasp on what might be coming. Grayslake and Round Lake feed the most students to District 46.

"There is too much uncertainty," board member Mary Garcia said.

In 2006, Kasarda was paid for a report that showed student growth was slowing in District 46. He said at the time the school system has enough space until 2015, with 400 pupils expected to be added over that time.

Enrollment figures released this week show the district has 4,248 students in early childhood classes through eighth grade. District 46 has 60 more students compared to this time last year.

Superintendent Ellen Correll recommended the board not spend the $10,000 on the Kasarda demographic report at this time.

However, board member Jill Rohrer disagreed. She said officials should be proactive and on top of student projections.

"I think the enrollment study is one of the key documents to moving forward in this district," Rohrer said.

Kasarda has been hired to perform enrollment projections at school districts across the suburbs. His work typically involves studying housing and population trends within a school district's boundaries.

District 46 board members are expected to revisit the idea of hiring Kasarda in the spring.

School board President Michael Linder said he believes in demographic studies, but the lack of solid future housing development plans for Grayslake and Round Lake would hinder Kasarda.

Linder said there should be enough available data at District 46 for administrators to keep an eye on trends for now.

"I think we need to be doing a diligent job of our own forecasting," he said.