Arizona's novel solution to teacher benefits...

[jmotivator]

Arizona school district unveils new homes built for teachers

ABC15 got a look at the new homes in northern Arizona this week and talked with one teacher who planned to move in.

www.abc15.com

"PRESCOTT, AZ — Some Northern Arizona school districts are making sure teachers have better access to housing by providing it themselves.

It's also another incentive for teachers to take jobs with the district.

Prescott Unified School District started construction earlier this year on new homes for educators. They will be available to rent out for at least a year."

On the one hand it's certainly in interesting way to save money on paying teachers...

On the other hand, it's hard to escape the feelin that this school district is now managing it's talent a lot like a 1990s Hip Hop record label.

Or possibly like a 1940s mining company.

 

[j brown's body]

Workers unable to afford housing in the areas they work in is a disgrace. The district is doing the right thing. As long as this housing gap exists, we need to see more of it, perhaps with a option to buy.. But it shouldn't be neccesary.

 

[mrjurrs]

Arizona school district unveils new homes built for teachers

ABC15 got a look at the new homes in northern Arizona this week and talked with one teacher who planned to move in.

www.abc15.com

On the one hand it's certainly in interesting way to save money on paying teachers...

On the other hand, it's hard to escape the feelin that this school district is now managing it's talent a lot like a 1990s Hip Hop record label.

Or possibly like a 1940s mining company.

The teacher shortage is only just beginning. This type of action is a good start in finding ways to battle that.

 

[samiam5211]

I think making employers landlords is a terrible idea.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Ahh, so we are in the company towns stage of the current guilded age.

 

[jmotivator]

I think making employers landlords is a terrible idea.

𝅘𝅥𝅯𝅘𝅥𝅯 You teach 32 kids, and what do ya get
Another day older and deeper in debt
St. Peter don't ya call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the Prescott School Board 𝅘𝅥𝅯𝅘𝅥𝅯

 

[Ginger Ale]

AZ is known for paying teachers crap wages, and under funding education. It's all retired folk who don't have kids, and therefore are against tax hikes. They've also allowed parents to hover over teaching curricula.
This new idea does sound a bit Orwellian.

 

[Grand Mal]

I think making employers landlords is a terrible idea.

In some (a few) cases it only makes sense. When I first got out on high school I worked in mines. Being a single man I lived in camp but married guys, with families, rented from the company. Everyone who mines knows that the mine could shut down next Friday and if you own a house in town, suddenly it'll be worth $1.
Doesn't apply to towns with more than one employer, naturally, and I bet the mine provided housing for teachers in my example, but the town is obligated to provide schools.

 

[Stealers Wheel]

Housing for teachers? What's next? They gonna pay them in scrip? Open a company store?

Here's an idea: Just pay those teachers a living wage and let them find their own housing.

 

[samiam5211]

In some (a few) cases it only makes sense. When I first got out on high school I worked in mines. Being a single man I lived in camp but married guys, with families, rented from the company. Everyone who mines knows that the mine could shut down next Friday and if you own a house in town, suddenly it'll be worth $1.
Doesn't apply to towns with more than one employer, naturally, and I bet the mine provided housing for teachers in my example, but the town is obligated to provide schools.

I could see providing temporary housing, especially in situations like oil rig workers who are there for a few weeks then away for a few weeks. I know that sort of thing is very common.

Mines are probably sort of in-between temporary and permanent, so i might could see that working there too.

There could even be a lack of adequate housing in those situations, so the employer providing housing might be the only reason that viable housing is available.

I think it is something that should be avoided in permanent or semi-permanent situations though.

 

[Grand Mal]

I could see providing temporary housing, especially in situations like oil rig workers who are there for a few weeks then away for a few weeks. I know that sort of thing is very common.

Mines are probably sort of in-between temporary and permanent, so i might could see that working there too.

There could even be a lack of adequate housing in those situations, so the employer providing housing might be the only reason that viable housing is available.

I think it is something that should be avoided in permanent or semi-permanent situations though.

It's kind of short-sighted, for sure. At first, it might make the teacher chose your town instead of the one down the road but it also means your recruit hasn't made any committment and is much more likely to bail on you if an attractive offer comes their way

 

[jmotivator]

AZ is known for paying teachers crap wages, and under funding education. It's all retired folk who don't have kids, and therefore are against tax hikes. They've also allowed parents to hover over teaching curricula.
This new idea does sound a bit Orwellian.

A 2 teacher household in AZ makes a median household income of ~$106,000, which is considerably above the national average.

Whether that is enough to afford a home and the usual trappings of a comfortable life is another question, however.

I have no doubt at all that the County would raise rent faster than the they would raise salaries, though.

 

[dmpi]

Teachers have families. A cookie cutter home may be inappropriately sized to cover everybody's situation.

 

[Ginger Ale]

A 2 teacher household in AZ makes a median household income of ~$106,000, which is considerably above the national average.

Whether that is enough to afford a home and the usual trappings of a comfortable life is another question, however.

I have no doubt at all that the County would raise rent faster than the they would raise salaries, though.

Yeah, sounds good but isn't the real picture. In AZ, teachers fall about 44th on the pay scale compared to other states. That's dismal and does not attract good teachers to our state.
There's a lot of reasons our school system suffers.

Arizona teachers face a 32% pay penalty, among the worst in the nation

Arizona has one of the biggest teacher pay gaps in the nation. Public school teachers are paid less than similarly-educated people.

www.azmirror.com

 

[jmotivator]

Yeah, sounds good but isn't the real picture. In AZ, teachers fall about 44th on the pay scale compared to other states. That's dismal and does not attract good teachers to our state.
There's a lot of reasons our school system suffers.

Arizona teachers face a 32% pay penalty, among the worst in the nation

Arizona has one of the biggest teacher pay gaps in the nation. Public school teachers are paid less than similarly-educated people.

www.azmirror.com

As an aside, I had to laugh the other day when a protesting teacher on the local news the other day complained that schools are under performing because all the best teachers are going to other jurisdictions... not seeming to realize she just called herself out as a bad teacher.

As far as Arizona teachers pay goes, I think anyone making above the national average in salary doesn't have much room to complain... I mean in theory every teacher in Arizona could have gone to another state but didn't. If you want Arizona to pay better, stop taking jobs for less pay.

 

[noonereal]

I think making employers landlords is a terrible idea.

Why?

Just because it always has been a disaster?

(Good post)

 

[samiam5211]

Why?

Just because it always has been a disaster?

(Good post)

Because it gives employers too much power over the employees.

 

[Risky Thicket]

Arizona school district unveils new homes built for teachers

ABC15 got a look at the new homes in northern Arizona this week and talked with one teacher who planned to move in.

www.abc15.com

On the one hand it's certainly in interesting way to save money on paying teachers...

On the other hand, it's hard to escape the feelin that this school district is now managing it's talent a lot like a 1990s Hip Hop record label.

Or possibly like a 1940s mining company.

If you want to look at Arizona's idea of "saving money spent on education" take a long good look at Arizona's school voucher program.

 

[Hamish Howl]

Now we just need a company store.

 

[Bodi]

I think making employers landlords is a terrible idea.

It is all probably run by a bank or rental management company... It is not like the Principal is the land lord.

 

[Bodi]

Why?

Just because it always has been a disaster?

(Good post)

Bad post, unless you can show how it is a bad idea.

 

[justabubba]

As an aside, I had to laugh the other day when a protesting teacher on the local news the other day complained that schools are under performing because all the best teachers are going to other jurisdictions... not seeming to realize she just called herself out as a bad teacher.

As far as Arizona teachers pay goes, I think anyone making above the national average in salary doesn't have much room to complain... I mean in theory every teacher in Arizona could have gone to another state but didn't. If you want Arizona to pay better, stop taking jobs for less pay.

isn't this not taking shitty paid teacher jobs ^ exactly what is causing arizona government to look for other incentive programs, such as mill village housing, to attract the teachers who are shunning arizona and its crappy salaries

 

[noonereal]

Bad post, unless you can show how it is a bad idea.

Read the history of this practice.
Peace

 

[Hamish Howl]

It is all probably run by a bank or rental management company... It is not like the Principal is the land lord.

Yes, and if your boss decides he doesn't like you, you become homeless at the same time you lose your job.

How is this differential calculus? Have you never read any history from the end of the civil war until world war I?

 

[Bodi]

Read the history of this practice.
Peace

No. Please make a case though...