Innovative Affordable Housing Proposal: Home Sweet Classroom.

By: Grace Smith – Wise News Network

MORGANTON, NC (WNN) – When it comes to attracting new teachers to a school district, sometimes school boards have to get creative. Burke County Public Schools has proposed an affordable housing solution that could bring in new educators and help its existing staff. 

Dr. Bob Acord, the director of auxiliary services for the Burke County Public Schools, explained that the school district wants to convert an abandoned school building into an apartment complex for teachers. 

The old Chesterfield Elementary School building has been without students since 2018. The building lays dormant, with the exception of occasional practice drills from the Burke County Police department to fill the hallways. 

Currently, the project is undergoing a feasibility study to determine what this project could cost and how long it would take to complete. The Dogwood Health Trust, a non profit organization based out of Asheville, NC, has supplied the district with a grant to assist in the cost of the study. 

“Once our feasibility study is complete, our architect will meet with our administrative team here in Burke County. That will then be attached along with our grant application to Dogwood Health Trust.” said Acord. 

The architect said that the Chesterfield Elementary School building could yield at least 31 apartments. The dwellings will be constructed out of old classrooms. The gymnasium and cafeteria could be converted into loft spaces to provide additional housing options.

The Dogwood Health Trust intends to assist Burke County Public Schools as much as possible. Representatives from the organization are actively searching for grants that would benefit the proposed project. 

According to Sarah Grymes, Dogwood’s vice president of housing, “Dogwood was pleased to provide support to Burke County Public Schools for a feasibility study and look forward to hearing more about their future plans.”

Although this project is still deep in the planning process, Acord and the district are confident that the affordable housing would attract potential educators. Specifically, recent graduates who would benefit from reduced prices of living. 

“We got folks coming out of college, straight out of school, looking for housing. They’re coming from different states, not not familiar with the area, so it’s a good opportunity for us to, have something that someone who’s moving from another state might have available to rent.” said Acord. 

Another appeal of the project is the camaraderie it could bring to the residents. Teachers would live in close quarters, able to discuss their industry and form relationships with others with shared experiences. Acord even mentioned the potential of educators offering tutoring from the converted school.

“It’s a beautiful spot. There’s nine acres here, there’s a lot of possibilities.” said Acord. 

With North Carolina ranking 46th in the country for teacher’s starting salaries, according to a study conducted by the National Education Association, this proposed project could reduce the burden on Burke County teachers. 

The feasibility study is still underway. However, once completed the district will be able to assess potential prices for rent. Cheryl Shuffler, the public relations officer for Burke County Public Schools, said they hope to make rent as affordable as possible.

As Burke County Public Schools work to provide their teachers with affordable housing the spotlight is on them. The district is hopeful that the old school building will be bustling with teachers in the next few years. 

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