Kansas City Public Schools Considers Transforming School Building into Affordable Housing for Teachers

Redefining Education Infrastructure

In an innovative approach to address affordable housing, Kansas City Public School District is contemplating converting a closed school campus into housing units specifically for teachers. The issue of educators being unable to afford housing in the districts where they work has plagued cities across the United States, and Kansas City is no different. The revitalization of the Bryant School Campus, which shut its doors in 2009, is one potential solution being considered by the KCPS District.

Teachers’ Tuition Into Housing

David Price, a teacher in the district, voiced some concerns on the proposed plan. “There’s a lot of things that worry some teachers. If your district is your landlord, it might make you feel a certain way when you’re at home, and there might never be that true separation,” Price argued. Such concerns highlight potential challenges in achieving work-life balance under this new setup.

Proposed Units

Potentially, up to 40 units could be established in the building, spanning from studio apartments to multi-room spaces. “When we surveyed our teachers, 75% of them said that affordable housing was a difficulty for them,” suggests Jesse Lange, KCPS Manager for Real Estate and Planning. “When we looked at that group under 25, it went all the way to 90%.”

Affordability Crisis in Kansas City

Statistics certainly paint a picture of financial strain for educators in Kansas City. According to RedFin, the median monthly rent rate in the city is $1,177 , reflecting a steep increase from previous years. Start-up teachers’ salaries range between just $18-$24 an hour before taxes, putting the costs of living in the local areas out of reach for many educators.

Proposed Alternatives

Union representatives argue against the housing solution, suggesting it doesn’t adequately address the needs of the lowest-paid workers in the education sector. Jason Roberts, President of Kansas City Federation of Teachers, raises the concern, “What about the cafeteria workers and the custodians and paraprofessionals who don’t get paid over the summer?”

Additional Financing Channels

While there’s no clear process yet on how teachers would be selected to stay in the housing units, Jesse Lange laid out potential financing options. “In order to make the project work, we’d have to be looking at a mixture of a developer stepping up with traditional financing,” Lange pointed out, “But also, historic tax credits and philanthropy to help us reduce those rent rates for teachers.”

Take the Funds Directly to Classroom

Another alternative the unions representing educators have suggested is selling off properties like Bryant School and using the funds to increase teachers’ salaries and putting more resources directly into the classrooms.