Twin Rivers Unified joins California school districts in building affordable housing for staff

Here is another school district with declining enrollment, changing its mission.  It is going from an education facility to become real estate speculators.

“Twin Rivers Unified became one of the few districts in California to approve its land to be used for housing construction. and followed suit of districts like Los Angeles, Santa Clara, and San Mateo, which have successfully completed affordable housing projects for staff.

The California School Board Association has been a major proponent of districts taking on California’s housing crisis and worked alongside UC Berkeley and UCLA to author a report to address the toll housing can take on school staff who are — on average — paid below the area’s median income. 

Now we know the California School Board Association, instead of promoting education is the force behind changing districts into housing speculators, with tax dollars.  Obviously, these districts have too many staff members.  End the corruption of education, get back to teaching and the new regime of land speculation.

Twin Rivers Unified joins California school districts in building affordable housing for staff

Srishti Prabha, Capradio, 12/16/24  https://www.capradio.org/articles/2024/12/16/twin-rivers-unified-joins-california-school-districts-in-building-affordable-housing-for-staff/

Twin Rivers Unified School District unveiled plans to build Chuckwagon Park, its proposed workforce housing development project, at a ceremony last week.

The event, attended by the district’s school board members and city leaders like Vice Mayor Karina Talamantes, marked one of outgoing mayor Darrell Steinberg’s final appearances in office.

“As mayor of this city for the next six and a half hours, I’m so proud of what you’re doing here and what this represents,” Steinberg said. “Because let’s step back for just a second — school districts are not supposed to get in the business of housing. And that’s what makes this idea so brilliant.”

Twin Rivers Unified became one of the few districts in California to approve its land to be used for housing construction. and followed suit of districts like Los Angeles, Santa Clara, and San Mateo, which have successfully completed affordable housing projects for staff.

The California School Board Association has been a major proponent of districts taking on California’s housing crisis and worked alongside UC Berkeley and UCLA to author a report to address the toll housing can take on school staff who are — on average — paid below the area’s median income. 

Local educational agencies own 150,000 acres of land, the report says, of which 75,000 acres are available for workforce housing developments. Funding sources for these projects vary, from the use of earmarked facilities funding in the general budget to bonds approved by voters for facilities projects unrelated to school site improvements. 

Twin Rivers Unified’s 2023-2024 budget mentions that “positions were unfilled due to staffing shortages” a number of times, also noting that this could be due to a “lack of qualified applicants.” 

Superintendent Steve Martinez expressed the direct need the affordable housing site on Chuckwagon Drive would serve.

“A housing project allows us to recruit and retain high-quality individuals,” Martinez said. “The direct connection is that with high-quality employees, our students get a high-quality education.”

The California School Board Association directs districts and community members to the positive impact of San Mateo County’s Jefferson Union High School District. The district opened a housing complex in 2022 and has since seen full staffing for the first time in a decade. 

The association’s research finds that affordable housing development has added much-needed relief for staff facing high housing costs and reduced attrition. 

Elizabeth Villagomez, who works in the Twin Rivers facilities department, currently rents in the area and is considering applying to live in the new housing.

“It’s a good opportunity,” she said. “I did express interest in the whole project because I think it’s going to benefit a lot of people.”

Standing with her, other district employees like Lucy Arellano reflected on how this could help their friends.

“There are many parents who are single, who work in our district and they need support,” she said, adding that she wholeheartedly supports the project despite being a homeowner in the district. 

“You never know what will happen in three years,” said Arellano. “To work for a company that looks out for me like this is amazing.”

Her co-worker Sarah Fultz, who lives in Roseville, laughed and chimed in with “[North Sacramento] is a home away from home. We spend more time here sometimes.” 

However, not everyone in the community is on board. Janet Edwards, a local resident, voiced concerns about potential costs.

“I’m already paying for four bonds, and I don’t want to pay for a fifth bond,” Edwards said.

In response, Ryan DiGuilio, the district’s chief business official, clarified that the project would not be funded by bonds intended for school facilities.

“Bonds that were approved by voters all go to student facilities,” DiGuilio said, adding that there are only two active bonds in the district currents – Measures J and K, which voters passed in 2022. 

The district is working to determine what is feasible within its current budget and develop a timeline for the project.

School Board Trustee Rebecca Sandoval, who lives near the planned site, assured residents that the district would work closely with the community as the project progresses.

“We will engage with local residents and listen to their input to ensure this project aligns with their vision for the community,” Sandoval said.

The next community meeting about the workforce housing project is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 17, and will be held on Zoom.