Affordable housing for teachers

Recruiting new teachers to Pasco County has sometimes proven tough, superintendent Heather Fiorentino says, in no small part because housing prices throughout the county have been on the rise. So she's got an idea brewing to counter the trend.

"We've been working with affordable housing groups" to investigate "providing affordable housing for our staff and using that as a recruitment tool," Fiorentino told the Pasco school board this morning. She plans to bring back more information in two weeks.

The district is looking at donating about 4 acres in front of Marlowe Elementary, in New Port Richey, to the project. A developer would build 35-40 townhomes on the site. Another 18-20 townhomes are under consideration for an unnamed site in eastern Pasco.

"We're looking at some other areas too," Fiorentino said. "But this would be the first step."

Board members expressed excitement about the concept and asked for more information as soon as possible. If the district proceeds, it would be following in the footsteps of a growing number of school districts, including some on the Atlantic coast of Florida.

Comments

[Mr. Remember who taught you to read and write]

Teaching in the US:
a fifteen month job crammed into 9 months. Take those breaks away and I think we'd go back to parents having to take on the responsibility of educating their own children. Teachers would exit the profession en masse. It's the most difficult, but rewarding, job I have had.

[Searching for the truth]

Now that I have read about SHIP and Sadowski funds, I have a better understanding.

I still don't see the connection on how it effects education. It sounds like a rationalization to support government control.

Instead of donating the land, why doesn't the school board put a money making business on it. Just think how much money could go directly to education if the schools owned the casinos.

[Norma]

By the way, the days of Florida having affordable housing are on their way out if not gone. Salaries aren't keeping up with the rising costs.

[Norma]

Peter, this blog is "kept" because of free speech. Do you define lies and hate as opinions that don't match your own?

[Searching for the truth]

Thanks Peter.

I noted that you said the money is not earmarked for teachers, but that it is for "essential service personnel".

Is this an established perception of teachers as essential service personnel?

Is there a short version of how this is good for education in the classroom?

[Peter]

The CWIP money comes from doc stamps on documents that is earmarked in a trust fund for affordable housing. These funds were in a trust fund for local governments for use for affordable housing. The Legislature decided to cap this trust fund (I guess there is enough affordable housing in Florida) and siphoned money away from local governments for this program. You may have heard of SHIP or Sadowski funds

This money is not earmarked for teachers. It is earmarked for "essential service personnel," in each county. Pasco has not yet designated what that is (the county - not the school board) but will do it soon

[Concerned]

Public housing for teachers? Sounds a little like the old company towns of the Mine companies in WV!

by the way, Phil, as of October, 59% of the instructional staff in Pasco are members of the Union. I guess they do deserve to be at the table.

[Searching for the Truth]

Peter - identify what you see as lies and hate.

After that, give us a heads up on how $5 million can be allocated for a housing project and why that same money could not go to educational
services.

What is the purpose of our public education system? Explain how a housing project comes under the privy of a local school board?

I am trying to make the connection. Help.

[Phil]

What is this? The union rant section? What percentage of teachers are members of the union? 15%? 20%? They should not even be at the table

Teachers are paid well for a nine month job. You should look at the median income compared to salaries of teachers.

[Peter]

Why does the Times keep this blog site when it is just full of hate and lies?

This is a great deal for Pasco. The ocunty will donate 4 acres to a community land trust, which will have buildings that will always be for teachers. the state of Florida will send down $5 million dollars to help build the project.

CWIP was started so middle income people, like teachers, nurses, and firefighters could afford housing

[Joe Public]

My interpretation of what I read was that the school board was donating land to the project. This does not mean it is signing a quit claim deed.

If the school board is giving away land for free and there are no strings attached to tie the school board to the land then maybe I am missing something.

I just don't think there are any free strings around, especially when it comes to how our money is spent by the government.

[Rhon]

Oh, yeaah. I went to college and got a degree so I can live in subsidized housing. Right...
Who wants to be a teacher? No one!!!

It isn't costing the the school district anything. Didn't you read the article. There contribution is land, not money that could be used for salaries.

[No Way]

I want to see the math on this one. How in can building/maintaining housing be less expensive than improving salaries? Or will they just slap up the teacher projects and then let them rot?

I haven't laughed so hard in what feels like a long while. Thanks, Pasco! (And here I was thinking that Hillsborough county had all the jokes.)

[Joe Public]

School systems complain they do not have money. School systems complain that parents do not take responsibility. School systems complain, complain, complain about all of the responsibilites "dumped" onto them.

Now this school system is going into the teacher housing industry. Because teachers can't afford to work for the school system. How much is it going to cost the school system to manage their housing department after the initial outlay? How many administrators will it take? How many staff people will they have to hire? How much insurance will they have to pay for? Etc. Etc. Etc.

Teachers who become administrators are not trained business professionals. But they do have authority and power, reckless as it may be.

[caroline]

Overworked and UNDERPAID!

[Judy Beck]

I couldn't agree with you more, Eva. This country just doesn't get how hard teachers work. They shouldn't need affordable housing, but they usually do. The answer lies in paying them a living wage.
P.S. I'm not a teacher--I knew I wasn't up to such a difficult job.

[Eva Knapp]

Pay teachers a decent wage--so that they would not need "affordable housing". Teachers have four year degrees and more--shouldn't they be able to afford to own a house the same as does a doctor, lawyer and candlestick maker? As a retired teacher, I don't recall any vows of poverty that were required. School board members think they are above teachers. They make a decent salary on top of what they earn at their other jobs. What would help would be to make sure that teachers make the same pay as do administrators. The last I heard, the teachers were working harder than administrators anyway.