Pictured: The Tuttle Turtles, the team from Tuttle Elementary School, showed up in full force for last weekend's Education Foundation Ringling Bridge Run. Provided photo.

With Teacher Appreciation Week starting on Monday, teachers have been on our mind even more than usual – and how we can do more for them. Last fall I wrote here about teachers (and consequently students) paying the ultimate price of Sarasota’s housing crisis. But a fresh take on mixed-use development could offer faculty and staff an affordable place to live in our top-rated school district. 

Sarasota County Schools currently employ nearly 5,800 people who serve more than 46,500 students, making the district one of the county’s largest employers.  With the current average Sarasota County teacher salary at $68,428, and the minimum starting salary at $57,500, affording a Sarasota lifestyle is certainly a barrier in recruiting new teachers and retaining experienced ones. Support staff for public schools - food service providers, custodians, bus drivers and others - often earn less, with starting wages between $31,000 and $46,000 a year. 

At the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce’s Affordable Housing Summit last fall, a report showed 73% of local employers said a lack of affordable housing has severely impacted recruitment and retention and Sarasota County Schools are no exception. 

Spearheaded by the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, the Center for Innovation and EduDwell Living would provide affordable housing for district employees while also placing those residents in close proximity to a program hub offering resources and services for students, families, community partners, and teachers. Located in the heart of downtown Sarasota, the facility would operate within a qualified opportunity zone and within three miles of several Title I schools, making it easier for families in need of program resources and services. 

“This project is an innovative step toward improving Sarasota’s housing stock and student achievement,” said Sen. Joe Gruters. “I’m glad to support a project that helps Florida’s current and future workforce succeed.”

Both Sen. Gruters and Rep. Fiona McFarland see affordable housing as an issue that needs to be addressed and have sponsored local funding initiative requests this legislative session for the project to support the early design and development stages. As proposed, the project would bring 82 affordable, workforce, and attainable housing units online, from 23 studio apartments renting for as little as $1,056 a month to three-bedroom units for $2,352. That matters, as the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Sarasota County is $1,859. 

As more funding becomes available through Resilient SRQ, HUD’s disaster recovery block grant for Sarasota County, this project addressing housing and economic/workforce development priorities is a shovel-ready, perfect fit. If fully funded, construction could begin as early as August, with doors opening by the end of 2028. 

Completion will require an all-in effort—galvanizing support from the Florida Legislature, county government, individual philanthropists and foundations. This is a true public-private partnership, and everyone has a role to play.

Many experts agree that the teacher shortage could have more serious consequences than workforce shortages in nearly any other field. Data shows teacher vacancies have a direct, detrimental effect on student learning. Without qualified teachers, classrooms simply don’t progress the same way.

With state and county funding, private donors, and partnerships, we can work together to meet bipartisan educational and workforce development goals. If realized, this project could yield tremendous benefits for the educators shaping Sarasota County’s next generation.

This Teacher Appreciation Week, show your teachers the love they deserve – and let’s think about what more we can do to show them how important they are to this community. 

Jennifer Vigne is the President and CEO of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County.

Pictured: The Tuttle Turtles, the team from Tuttle Elementary School, showed up in full force for last weekend's Education Foundation Ringling Bridge Run. Provided photo.