The district is potentially breaking ground on starting construction for more affordable teacher and staff housing. Housing in the Bay Area has risen to high prices, causing it harder for teachers and staff of San Mateo District to afford it.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the past two months area prices have gone up 0.3 percent while in the last two years the consumer price index went up. “The average monthly rent for a two–bedroom apartment in San Francisco ($2,000) was two and a half times greater than the average in Fresno or Bakersfield (both about $800).”

Rents range between $875 to $1,100 per month for single-bedroom units, about $1,200 to $1,350 for two-bedroom units and $1,700 per month for a few three-bedroom units with two bathrooms.

High school district officials have said they would model their project in a much similar manner, which offers housing to local faculty on the College of San Mateo campus, and is considering another, similar project to be done here at Skyline College.

U.S. Representative Jackie Speier recently voiced her support for the high school district’s proposal to model the community college district’s project.

Speier sent a letter out to the high school district trustees stating that local efforts in terms of teacher housing is very necessary because there is little interest by federal legislators to offer more and better affordable living situations within the San Mateo County.

“We built up for the College of San Mateo, we built 44 units there, 60 units at Cañada, and still have a wait list of faculty and staff who want to live in these faculty housing,” said Barbara Christensen, the district’s director of community and government relations.

“We determined the number we need is 24 more additional units and that is why we decided to build it at Skyline because we have the extra land there.”

“I think it is a brilliant plan,” said Regina Stanback Stroud, president of Skyline College.

“Even from the beginning, Ron Galatolo was really the mastermind, recognizing that if you want to be on track and to keep good talent that you have to be able to get in here and this was years ago he saw we can be inviting them to work with us,” Stroud said.

Galatolo came up with the housing as a solution for potential faculty members who commute to save a down payment for a house. There are qualifications for faculty members who want to apply for housing: The faculty have to have never been home owners and can live at the housing for up to seven years. From the time they live in the housing, the goal is to save money to buy a house in the Bay Area.

“In this particular area, the San Bruno community it is especially hard for faculty member at Skyline to get affordable housing,” Stroud said, “This is just working class neighborhood, not the middle of the city, you have to be able to get here, so actually think the housing to attract people and at least let them get in the door, to be able join as a college community.”