ST. PETERSBURG -- Rising home prices and rentals have made it harder to recruit teachers and school staff, and forced workers into long commutes.
One Florida school district is trying to address the problem by converting an old school building into housing for teachers and staff.
Pinellas County Schools is putting out a request for proposals to repurpose the Tomlinson Building in St. Petersburg's Mirror Lake District. It wants a public-private partnership to develop the site, turning the building that has formerly housed an adult learning center into a housing, business, entertainment or mixed use facility. It wants to provide the maximum number of apartment units for teachers and staff at the "lowest possible rent." It would retain ownership but lease the property for this purpose.
Responses are due by 4 p.m. on February 1. The district would then select finalists to advance to the next round.
Listen below to an interview with Clint Herbic, Associate Superintendent for Operational Services.
Photo: Pinellas County Schools