San Jose school district weighs plan to convert school property to teacher housing

The San Jose Unified School District has drafted a plan to convert school property into housing for area teachers amid soaring housing costs.

The district’s proposal to consider building housing on nine district-owned properties has drawn a backlash from area residents who want to preserve schools they say are the heart of their communities, the East Bay Times reported.

The district says it is struggling to find and retain teachers due to soaring housing costs and that teachers commute up to four hours a day to and from their schools.

District officials say they are looking at converting schools with declining enrollment or aging buildings and the district’s offices. The schools would be moved to other sites.

A meeting to discuss the plan drew hundreds of residents this week.