California Proposes Turning School District Land into Affordable Housing for Teachers
The California Department of Education is addressing the housing crisis by suggesting a creative solution: utilizing undeveloped land owned by school districts to provide housing for teachers.
Teachers, custodians, and secretaries are all eligible for this housing option at an affordable price. According to State Superintendent of Schools Tony Thurmond, the construction would take place on property that is already owned by school districts.
“If each district that we identified as having surplus property developed 30 units, that would result in 2.3 million new units available for the California workforce,” Thurmond said.
Throughout the state, there are over 7,068 properties and 75,000 acres available for potential development. They anticipate that this will also address the issue of teacher shortages and improve teacher retention.
According to Tristan Brown, the legislative director for the California Federation of Teachers, many teachers’ starting salaries make them eligible for housing assistance, indicating their awareness of the existing need.
“We have teachers driving over 100 miles, hours in a car, each morning and afternoon,” Brown said.
There have been five projects completed across the state, and there are currently four more under construction.
A site was constructed near San Francisco in Daly City at the Jefferson Union High School District, making it one of the earliest in the country. According to Andy Lie from the district, the rent for a one-bedroom apartment is approximately $1,400.
In terms of functionality, school districts have the option to collaborate with either a nonprofit or for-profit developer, while still retaining ownership of the land, or they can choose to sell the land.
“Sell the property because they need revenue and this can go into the General Fund of the school district and used at the discretion of the school board,” Thurmond said.
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They will provide rental rates that are 50% below the market average.
ABC10 examined how local districts are utilizing software developed by UCLA and UC Berkeley to evaluate property. There have been 52 properties discovered within the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD), totaling 260 developable acres.
SCUSD has announced its development plans, which include Fremont School, Old Marshall Property, and Thomas Jefferson.
Additionally, the software presents additional options, such as 11 acres at Luther Burbank and 10 acres at John F. Kennedy High School.
There are also ongoing efforts to pass new laws. Districts will also need to determine which members of their staff meet the requirements. ABC10 inquired about the superintendent’s concerns regarding the potential sale of the land, which may be required for future school construction.
According to his statement, they plan to keep an eye on the situation. However, due to the recent decrease in population, they are considering the possibility of developing the land instead.
Source: ABC-10
