Arkansas school district to construct teacher housing due to nationwide shortage.
School Districts Addressing Teacher Shortage with Innovative Housing Programs
School districts across the country are taking proactive measures to combat the nationwide teacher shortage by implementing planned housing programs designed to attract and retain educators. One of the main factors contributing to the shortage, as identified by superintendents, is the lack of affordable housing options for teachers in close proximity to their schools.
California’s Mountain View Whisman School District Sets an Example
In response to this challenge, the Mountain View Whisman School District in California, where the median home value is approximately $1.5 million, has taken the initiative to construct affordable subsidized housing for its staff. Other communities are also planning similar housing villages that offer amenities beyond just housing.
Recently, Bentonville Public Schools in Arkansas achieved a significant milestone in their efforts to provide comprehensive housing for their staff. Attorney General Tim Griffin determined that the school district could legally donate a 9-acre plot of land to a local nonprofit group for development.
Bentonville’s Rapid Growth and Rising Housing Prices
The Bentonville area has experienced explosive growth, thanks to the presence of major companies like Walmart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt Transport Services. However, this growth has led to skyrocketing housing prices. According to Zillow, home prices in the area have increased by 4.2% since July of last year, with the average house costing nearly $435,000. Superintendent Debbie Jones emphasizes that these prices are simply unsustainable for teachers.
Historically, Bentonville’s school district has been able to attract 140 teachers per year with highly competitive salaries. However, it has become increasingly challenging to fill teaching positions, especially among young graduates. To find a solution, the district began exploring housing options in other districts such as San Francisco, Los Gatos, Palo Alto, Austin, and the Pojoaque Valley School District near Santa Fe.
A Unique Model for Bentonville
Despite considering existing housing options, Jones, Webster, and other local stakeholders were determined to create a unique model that would benefit their community in northwest Arkansas. Their goal is to enable young teachers with household incomes of $50,000 to $60,000 to purchase homes and experience the benefits of homeownership, such as equity appreciation. They believe that missing this opportunity could have long-term consequences.
While housing is not traditionally a school district’s responsibility, Jones sees it as an opportunity to remove roadblocks that hinder the hiring of the best teachers. The building plans for the housing program in Bentonville consist of three primary sections, totaling around 100 units. Sixty units will be part of an apartment complex, 20 will be ”cottage size” single-family homes available for rent, and the remaining 20 will be single-family homes for purchase, allowing residents to transition from apartments to homeownership.
A Promising Future for Bentonville’s Housing Program
The plot of land designated for the housing program is conveniently located within a 5-mile radius of six to seven schools. The estimated cost of the entire project ranges from $20 million to $25 million. The school board meeting on September 19 will discuss the funding for this initiative, now that Attorney General Griffin has given it the constitutional green light.
The Excellerate Foundation, a nonprofit organization, is spearheading this housing program by bringing together state, local, and private interests. Their aim is to provide ongoing support to residents, including financial guidance and assistance with credit scores, to ensure their long-term success in homeownership.
CEO Jeff Webster of the Excellerate Foundation believes that by collectively addressing the housing challenge, the community of northwest Arkansas can make a significant difference. He emphasizes that this collaborative effort is what the region is known for and what will ultimately lead to positive change.
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