CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools leaders are addressing concerns from teachers about a proposed $1 million "teacher village" that would offer affordable or below-market housing to district educators.
Some teachers say the proposal is a Band-Aid.
"This is unprecedented, the type of approach we are taking to housing," Raki McGregor, the CMS lead executive in residence, said Tuesday. "We do not see this as a Band-Aid. What we see this as is going around the entire county. When they say Band-Aid, I'd say we are focused on getting this right."
While there's not a fine-tuned outline of this plan, district leaders hope it will address the most expensive part of life, housing. But will it be enough? One former teacher who left citing pay as a reason says she isn't sure.
Hannah Wall left the classroom to enter the nursery, trading in her school badge for motherhood.
"It's so vital teaching them how to read and how to count," Wall, a former kindergarten teacher, said.
Supported by her husband, Wall says being a stay-at-home mom or another option wouldn't have been possible on her teacher salary.
"I would have to be a teacher, and in that case, I would not have the income to sustain just myself and my kids," she said.
For her, the issue of teacher pay is a common note on the universal chalkboard. Wall said some of her college friends have also left teaching over the pay. As many others follow their lead, Wall says there's only one answer for keeping good teachers on the job: more money.
"You cannot be in it for the money," she said. "It would definitely help."
Living paycheck to paycheck was a test in itself for Wall. Meanwhile, districts like CMS continue to look for ways to help out aside from pay. Those possible solutions include affordable housing options to keep teachers like Wall in the classroom.
"I've always wanted to be a teacher and I love children," Wall said.
It's important to note that teacher salaries are set by the state. However, Mecklenburg County can raise pay through its budget. Right now there is a request for the 2025 budget, including over $630 million in teacher pay raises countywide.
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