School Districts: Real Estate Bust Provides Opportunity to Attract High Quality TeachersFrom the January 7 Issue of K-12Leads and Youth Service Markets Report.
Announcement: Blue Ribbon Committee Workforce Housing Project Due January 17 School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida.
Their Description:The Blue Ribbon Committee Workforce Housing has been formed to address the shortage of affordable housing for teachers and other instructional personnel employed by The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida. The purpose of the Request For Information/Qualifications (RFI/Q) is to receive information from developers regarding the availability of housing which could be made available for qualified instructional personnel.....
1. Experience... For each project sold out in the last 5 years complete attachment A.
2. Number of units closed in the last year.
3. Total amount of units closed in the last year.
4. Existing inventory
For each current affordable housing project complete attachment B
For each current non-affordable housing project complete attachment C.
5. Incentives for teachers (instructional staff)
Provide a list of current subsidies or incentives that your firm offers teachers.
Would your firm be willing to provide additional reductions or incentives specifically for teachers:
• Closing cost assistance,
• Mortgage subsidy,
• Soft second mortgage,
• Reduction in sales price,
• Upgrades,
• Rent to own program,
• Other reduction or incentives
Provide dollar value per unit sold for each reductions or incentive marked above
Would the proposed reduction or incentive program be applicable to all units available for sale?
6.... Provide a list complaints filed with the construction trade qualifying board....
7. ... If your firm has done projects with the county, the city of Miami, or other municipality, please provide references...
8.... Is your firm familiar with or have provided first time homeowner training to affordable housing buyers and if so, who provided the training?
My Thoughts: Normally, I point out RFPs for school improvement providers. Teacher recruiting firms might gain a competitive edge if they developed relationships with real estate firms and developers sitting on large inventories of appropriate housing. Indeed, Dade happens to be looking for a teacher recruitment system.
Nevertheless, my real intent this week is to bring this idea to the attention of school districts. In this market, they almost certainly can develop some kind of real estate opportunity for their teaching staff - and especially new teachers moving into the district. It just might be the difference among job offers that sends the best teachers your way. ••••
