CMS explores building teacher housing
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Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is branching into the home construction industry in a desperate effort to retain teachers during a housing affordability crisis.
Why it matters: With a starting pay of $48,637, many CMS teachers can't afford to live where they work. And that can have repercussions on the quality of children's education.
- Teachers have the greatest influence on student performance.
Driving the news: CMS wants to build an estimated $30 million "educator community" on district-owned land, potentially with up to 100 units and common spaces.
- District leaders are currently exploring models for the design, locations and financing. They expect to finalize a plan in 2025.
Zoom in: This is just one part of "At Home in CMS," a new initiative the school system unveiled Thursday to provide teachers with local rental and homeownership options.
- For example, CMS is partnering with developers Ascent, Laurel Street and DreamKey Partners to track available inventory and prioritize renting affordable units to educators in 34 high-need schools.
- CMS also organizes housing fairs and webinars to inform CMS employees of their opportunities, such as House Charlotte, a down payment assistance program.
- The attendance at the events alone underscores the severity of the problem. The first fair this past June drew an estimated 500 attendees, according to CMS.
State of play: CMS is competing for teachers with neighboring counties, where housing is generally more affordable. This school year started with nearly 300 teacher vacancies.
- According to a district survey, 61% of teachers said housing may impact whether they continue to work with CMS.
- A starting North Carolina teacher makes $41,000. Mecklenburg County provides a local supplement of $7,637.
- Meanwhile, the average sales price of a home in Mecklenburg County was $577,745 in September, a 6.7% increase from the year prior, according to Canopy Realtor Association.
What they're saying: Some CMS teachers have suggested the idea of a teacher housing community is offensive, calling it a "slap in the face" as The Charlotte Observer and WCNC reported, because it doesn't address the overarching salary issue.
- But at the press unveiling, teacher Genita Nashville said anything at this point is helpful, "when it comes down to having somewhere to stay versus not having anywhere to stay and being able to purchase food."
Reality check: The root of the housing problem lies in chronic undercompensation of teachers, Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, previously told Axios.
- Superintendent Crystal Hill said Thursday that CMS is constantly advocating for increased pay at the state level.
- The district ran a "Stop the NC Teacher Pay Cut" campaign this year, arguing that teachers were losing money because inflation was outpacing their raises. That plea to legislators was largely ignored, as a bill to fund private school vouchers was simultaneously voted on.
Zoom out: Building teacher housing has become a national trend for school districts.
- CMS leaders traveled to Santa Clara, Calif., to check out its teacher housing complexes.
- In downtown Atlanta, a developer is building a high-rise with 424 units reserved for educators.
- The Austin Independent School District in Texas is leasing unused land to developers who will be able to leverage its property tax-free status to keep rents affordable.
The bottom line: Building housing for teachers is not a long-term solution to teachers exiting the profession at a historic rate.
- Still, CMS expects this initial housing complex, once completed, to be replicated.