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Housing Could Be Wise Investment For Schools

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 16, 2007

Updated: 12/15/2007 10:56 pm

The Pasco County school district has more than 60,000 students and counting, and building classrooms is a constant process. It might seem a little misguided, then, that the school board is entertaining the possibility of also getting into the residential housing business, but it's not.

The plan, which the board is to consider a second time Tuesday, is appealing. Teaming with a builder, consultant and public and private housing agencies, the district would provide 4 acres of undeveloped land it owns beside Marlowe Elementary in New Port Richey for construction of 40 town houses.

In addition, 10 single-family homes would be constructed in Zephyrhills on land owned by Workforce Housing Ventures, a nonprofit agency that's hooking up with the school district to provide affordable housing to educators and other school employees priced out of the housing market.

School employees of certain incomes would be eligible to purchase the homes at targeted prices of $90,000 to $110,000. The land is not included, which is why the aimed-for prices are low.

There's a lot to like about the proposal. It would help employees and prospective workers find affordable homes to buy and serve as an attractive tool to recruit and retain them. Considering that the starting pay for a first-year teacher with a bachelor's degree in Pasco is less than $38,000 a year, affordable housing for educators is a big issue.

In addition, the district would only need to put up the 4 acres of land - no money. If the land isn't needed, partnering to provide affordable housing seems a very productive use. But school officials need to make sure the property won't be needed for additional classrooms or other facilities. Future education facility needs - education, period - should always come first.
School officials also must make sure that taxpayers will not be exposed if the units don't sell or other complications arise after the land is placed in a 99-year trust, as planned. Resale rules and other regulations also must be written to make sure that the units will be available for school employees.

The number of homes that would be available - 50 - is small, granted, but it's a good starting point to determine whether the experiment will work.

Taxpayers should be glad to know that the school district isn't pulling something out of thin air. The state's Community Workforce Housing Innovation Program offers grant money for ventures to provide affordable housing to workers considered essential to communities, including teachers and police officers. The Legislature established the program in 2006.

The program requires a match, and the 4 acres next to Marlowe would constitute it, as the district applies for a $5 million state grant.

Several public school systems throughout the country - including a few in Florida - are taking this innovative step in an attempt to recruit and keep teachers. Some are putting up the land in partnership with builders, while others are transforming old schools and other buildings into housing for current and future workers.

Putting up a small parcel of unused land would be a good investment by the Pasco school district and could pay big dividends in attracting quality employees. The school board should give it a try.

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