Bentonville School District pushes ahead in affordable housing plan
BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KFTA/KNWA) — The Bentonville Public School District is moving forward with its plan to provide housing for its educators despite some negative feedback from state lawmakers.
“Many in the community write our board members’ emails. I would say the negative comments they have received have been limited,” said Bentonville Superintendent Debbie Jones.
Jones says their housing plan begins with donating land to the Excellerate Foundation. In return, the foundation will help provide affordable housing for the district’s teachers. Forty single-family homes out of 100 will be specifically for educators in Bentonville, but School Board President Kelly Carlson says there’s lingering doubt among some community members.
“I’ve heard some people saying well you know I hear what you are doing I don’t know if it’s going to work like you say but we’ll see. And then outside of those comments, I have a few people who have reached out and have said I don’t like what you are doing,” said Carlson.
Some of those expressing resistance to the idea are state lawmakers.
“They reached out to me early on in the process and I responded and asked whatever information I can give them or if we could have time to sit down and discuss it,” said Carlson.
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However, Carlson says he hasn’t heard back. Carlson believes those in opposition to the plan don’t understand the benefit this will have.
They see a donation as us giving something away and not getting anything in return. But as I pointed out we are going to have 40 residential units for our teachers and staff. That’s one thing we are going to get in return. And then on the equity share program those teachers and staff that take advantage of that will receive 7 million dollars back,” said Carlson.
Carlson says the district will continue pushing forward with the plan to help their staff.
The importance of it we want to stay competitive. If we hire four of the best teachers in the country and they can’t find places to live they have to go somewhere else, I consider that a loss,” said Carlson.
“We live here. We know the rental purchase and the home purchase costs are real. We know it’s a struggle. And we also realize the district and the school board we realize it’s our responsibility the best staff for our students,” said Jones.
According to Jones, the next step will be a rezoning presentation next month for the Bentonville Planning Commission.
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