HOLLAND (WWJ) - A school district in West Michigan is attempting to attract and retain teachers with a new incentive that will offer educators thousands in down payment assistance.
Holland Public Schools administrators announced the new teacher retention program called "Teachers Live Here," which will give up to $25,000 in down payment assistance to educators who purchase homes in the district.
Superintendent Nick Cassidy said teachers must commit to working in the Ottawa County school district for at least five years to be eligible for the program, which will cover 10 teachers a year.
The "Teachers Live Here" program is funded over the next seven years due to a donation made by an anonymous community member. Cassidy said the donor hopes their contribution spurs on others in the community to maintain the program later on.
Cassidy told Mlive that affordable housing in Holland is one of the largest hurdles teachers face in the Holland area. Teachers often purchases homes outside the district and make a commute to work -- ultimately, those teachers end up leaving the district to teach at schools closer to where they live.
“We have teachers who can’t afford to live here,” the superintendent told Mlive. “We have great teachers who are driving in 30 minutes to Holland every day, and they’re doing great things. But then, five or six years down the road, a job comes up right next to their house, and it’s tough to compete with that.”
Cassidy hopes teachers can lay down their roots within the community and stay longer at the district by purchasing homes close to where they work.
“As we get more and more teachers here working with kids and improving outcomes, we all benefit from that,” he said. “If schools are constantly in this cycle of hiring and training and hiring, you’re always fighting an uphill battle at that point. But when you get the best and retain the best, the biggest winner is going to be our kids, but it’s also going to benefit all of our staff.”
School officials said teachers have already expressed interest in the program since it was unveiled earlier this month. Applications for "Teachers Live Here" is currently open for the 2022-23 school year while enrollment for next year is due to open on July 1, 2023.
In order to qualify, educators have to purchase a home within 15 miles of the school district's boundaries, which encompasses much of West Ottawa, Zeeland, Saugatuck, Hudsonville and Hamilton, in addition to areas in Grand Haven, Allendale, Jenison, Fennville and Allegan.
First-time home buyers will be considered first, officials said, as well as those purchasing homes within the district.
Other consideration will be given to teachers who have worked in the district for at least one year with good evaluation scores or if they are certified in an area with high-demand for educators.
Cassidy said the first recipient is two-way bi-lingual immersion teacher, Lillian Snoeyink.
While the program is designed to keep teachers for at least five years, the district does have a plan in place for cases, including life circumstances, that force an employee to move.