- Some Arizona schools are building tiny homes for their teachers, following a burgeoning trend in the US.
- One district outside Flagstaff is planning 10 new houses for teachers to rent at $600 per month.
One-room schoolhouses may be a thing of the past in America, but one-room homes for teachers are starting to take off.
Following a burgeoning trend throughout the country, a school district in Arizona has taken to building tiny homes — about 400 square feet each — for new employees to lure them with secure housing and close proximity to work.
The Chino Valley Unified School District, just south of Flagstaff, plans to build a development of 10 tiny homes for teachers using grant funding, according to local station KPHO. It will follow in the footsteps of several other districts in the state.
It is unclear how much the project costs and the amount of the grant. Chino Valley Unified School District did not respond to a request for comment.
Home construction for the Chino Valley development is planned over the next nine months and rent will be $600 for each house per month.
"We've been thinking about this for several years," John Scholl, Chino Valley superintendent, told the station, adding that it has been difficult for teachers to find affordable housing in the area.
He said the homes will be small, but have a full bathroom and kitchen like a studio apartment. The 10 new homes are planned near an elementary school in the district, giving teachers there the ability to walk to work.
"I think it's one part of the solution," he said. "I don't think it's a cure-all."
But some organizations have been quick to point out flaws in the plan, including the potential for a toxic relationship between teachers and their employers.
"When the school district is both your employer and your landlord, it can be difficult to speak up about potential problems or raise concerns," the Arizona Education Association told KPHO in a statement.
The Arizona Education Association added that the best way to provide stability for teachers is to increase pay, and support affordable housing policy at the local governmental level.