Brunswick Co. Schools advances affordable teacher housing; responds to Friday walkout
BRUNSWICK COUNTY, N.C. (WWAY) — Brunswick County Schools is moving forward with a plan to make housing more affordable for teachers, as district leaders say rising living costs are making it harder to recruit and retain staff.
“I either would lose the selected candidate because they could not locate and acquire affordable housing,” said Vickie Smith, a former principal at Union Elementary School.
Smith said the school often saw teachers leave after just a few years because of financial strain.
“Or if I was able to hire them and get them here, then they would have to leave after a couple of years because it just got overwhelming,” she said.
County commissioners have approved a 12-acre parcel of land in Supply that could be developed into housing for educators. District officials say the property could be transformed within the next three to five years.
“We were looking to solve the problem of teacher recruitment and retention,” said Superintendent Dale Cole.
Cole said the proposal includes 24 two-bedroom, two-bathroom units, with rent estimated at about $900 per month — well below the county’s average of roughly $1,500.
“Especially amongst teachers in their first five years because that’s when they make the least amount of money over their career and they have the hardest time with finding an affordable place to live in Brunswick County,” Cole said.
Cole said the district does not plan to use taxpayer funding for the project. Instead, the Brunswick County Education Foundation would apply for an interest-free construction loan through the North Carolina State Employees Credit Union Foundation.
“They give 15-year interest-free construction loans for projects like this that are designed to meet the needs of public sector employees,” Cole said.
The effort comes as thousands of teachers plan to travel to Raleigh on Friday to advocate for higher pay amid rising costs of living. Brunswick County Schools has designated Friday as a workday, allowing teachers to attend the demonstration.
“The state needs to pass a budget, our General Assembly needs to get together and find a way to pass a budget, it’s time,” Cole said.
Cole said the district is currently conducting an environmental study on the property. If approved, construction could begin within the next three to five years.
