Teacher Housing Initiatives
Quality of life is always a significant consideration for prospective teachers. Frequent questions interested educator candidates ask are: What does the school and neighboring community offer? Is housing readily available and/or affordable?
The Division of Educator Quality and Leadership has taken several innovative approaches to quality of life issues. Indeed, studies have shown that teachers who establish roots within a community are more likely to stay on the job. Here is a sampling of works in progress:
- The South Carolina Department of Education has partnered with the Department of Commerce on a grant program designed to build and/or renovate housing for South Carolina’s rural teachers. Currently, Saluda County is taking advantage of this grant to renovate a six unit apartment complex in Saluda County that will be available exclusively for teachers. The unit is projected to be completed in time for the start of the 2009-10 school year.
- Architectural renderings have been developed for the innovative South Carolina Teacher Village project. Under this plan, districts interested in providing housing for teachers may choose from a variety of pre-approved housing configurations. The SC Teacher Village will assist beginning, international, and veteran educators who are working in the state’s rural areas.
- SCDE has partnered with the South Carolina Housing Authority to offer low-interest loans and down payment assistance for teachers trying to purchase their first home. The $20 million initiative – the 2008 Palmetto Hero Program – was highly successful. Loans were made to 170 teachers and the monies were exhausted in just two months. SCDE continues to look for similar opportunities.
Saluda teacher apartment grant - L to R, Dr. David Mathis, Saluda School District One Superintendent; James Holloway, District One Board Chairman; Tony Cockrell, contractor; Ben Porter, BB&T Loan Officer; Saluda Town Councilman Obie Combs; Billy and Bobbie Martin, building owners; Bonnie Ammons, S.C. Department of Commerce; Saluda Town Councilman Douglas Butler; Saluda Mayor Frank Addy; S.C. Department of Education Board Member Amelia Herlong; Saluda Town Councilman Paul Bartley; Saluda Town Councilwoman Anissa Turner; Mark Bounds, S.C. Deputy Superintendent of Education for Educator Quality; Saluda Town Administrator Randy Cole; Barbara Turner, Teacher Recruitment Coordinator, S.C. Department of Education. (Saluda Standard-Sentinel photo) |