This browser does not support the Video element.
CUPERTINO, Calif. (KTVU) - School districts in the state are dealing with a teacher shortage crisis. Many teachers are priced out due to the high cost of living, but the Cupertino Union School District announced a plan Tuesday to keep teachers in Silicon Valley.
Dave Villafana is a sixth grade teacher in San Jose. In the last 29 years with the Cupertino Union School District, he's seen many of his fellow teachers leave because they can't afford housing.
"As a teacher, I'm renting and I can't afford to live in this area so when I retire, I will be moving out the area to affordable housing," said Villafana.
On Tuesday, the Cupertino Union School District announced a project. to take this 10-acre plot of district-owned land in Santa Clara and build 200 one to three bedroom housing units for educators at below market rent. The former school site is now being leased to several private schools.
"There are fewer teachers coming out of our university," said Cupertino School District Superintendent Wendy Gudalewicz. "We know since the recession has ended and the economy is on an uptick we are now fighting with the private sector for support staff."
According to the California Teachers Association, in Santa Clara County, the median price of a home is $970,000. The median monthly rent is $2,700. It doesn't help tech companies like the new Apple spaceship campus are fueling housing costs.
The district's plan is to not use any taxpayer money but to work with a developer to finance it. They are looking to the Santa Clara Unified School District for reference as that district rents out an apartment complex in Santa Clara to teachers.
As for Villafana, he worries about new teachers who want to raise a family as well as seasoned teachers.
"When you lose seasoned teachers and teachers who have been here five to 10 years, who got the ropes down, you lose the experience," said Villafana.
The school district hopes to have a developer by next year. If all works in the district's favor, they hope to have this housing project completed for the academic school year 2018-2019.