With housing being a critical barrier to school divisions hiring and retaining teachers, Prairie Land Public School Division (PLSD) has been using teacherages to help fill that gap.
Teacherages are residential properties owned or operated by the school division to provide a place for teachers to live while they are employed with the school division. These were very common in rural areas years ago. Today, they are reemerging as a way to attract and retain talent, especially when the housing market makes it difficult to bring professionals to new communities
Superintendent of PLSD Cam McKeage tells the Mail that the division has teacherages all across the division.
“Housing is absolutely a critical factor in securing and retaining teachers in smaller rural communities, and it's an issue that many jurisdictions like ours are navigating more frequently,” said McKeage. “In Prairie Land, we currently have 22 housing units (teacherages) across our division, all of which are occupied. These units are located in every one of our communities except Morrin, Hanna, and Calgary.”
He says while they are not concerned with housing in Calgary, they have explored the idea of teacherages in Morrin and Hanna.
“Over the years, we have looked for solutions and partnerships to support staff in both Morrin and Hanna, where the lack of available housing has proven to be a challenge,” said McKeage.
Mayor of Hanna Danny Povaschuk told the Mail they have they have explored the idea with the school division.
“We are having problems recruiting teachers into Hanna,” said Povaschuk. He adds they are also struggling to attract professionals in other fields, such as medicine.
“We’re all in the same boat. We are all competing for that one doctor, and it is hard,” said Povaschuk.
McKeage says they are open to solutions.
“Although the Division is not presently in the position to purchase additional properties, we are certainly open to innovative solutions that might support our recruitment and retention efforts,” he said.
