The Roaring Fork Schools Board of Education voted 4-0 Wednesday to provide $1 million to Habitat for Humanity in a memorandum of understanding to help purchase an 88-unit apartment building, marking another step in addressing housing issues for district employees. Board President Kathryn Kuhlenberg was not in attendance.
The project involves Habitat for Humanity purchasing an existing rental building in the Glenwood Springs area and converting it to condominiums, with 10 units being prioritized for RFSD staff.
Board Director Lindsay DeFrates expressed strong support for the initiative — but with reservations.
“We do have employees that continue to serve in this district and are in the search for housing,” she said. “I’m really torn though because I do want to take Chief (Ben) Bohmfalk’s direction on retaining some of the funds for other opportunities again, especially aimed at those groups that may be over 120% AMI (area median income).”
The 10 units dedicated to RFSD staff will mark a total of 140 total units available through the school district allocated to employees. The district’s current inventory includes 80 units throughout the district already occupied by teachers and staff, as well as the 50-unit Meadowood project in Carbondale that is expected to be finished in Mid-September. RFSD and Habitat for Humanity have previously partnered to provide 10 units to district staff through the Basalt Vista affordable housing project.
Board Director Jasmin Ramirez emphasized the critical decision for staff retention.
“I feel very strongly that we should commit as a district,” she said. “This is not just about teacher retention but an opportunity that other organizations in the valley will take advantage of.”
Bohmfalk explained the financial aspects.
“The million dollar contribution came from our comfort level with money already allocated to housing,” he said. He mentioned the need to maintain some contingency funds and the upcoming 10 year housing master plan, which will provide clearer direction for future projects.
Bohmfalk also described how the partnership with Habitat for Humanity will work.
“What we’re doing is helping to get 10 staff from the Roaring Fork School District at the front of the line for these units,” he said. “We know there is a need for staff housing in this school district and we are looking to continue to expand and do what we can to provide more units for our faculty.”
When asked if more funds would be required if the priority units increased, Bohmfalk clarified that a later discussion would need to take place with the board.
The next regularly scheduled board meeting is set for Aug. 28.
The Roaring Fork Schools Board of Education voted 4-0 Wednesday to provide $1 million to Habitat for Humanity in a memorandum of understanding to help purchase an 88-unit apartment building, marking another step in addressing housing issues for district employees. Board President Kathryn Kuhlenberg was not in attendance.
The project involves Habitat for Humanity purchasing an existing rental building in the Glenwood Springs area and converting it to condominiums, with 10 units being prioritized for RFSD staff.
Board Director Lindsay DeFrates expressed strong support for the initiative — but with reservations.
“We do have employees that continue to serve in this district and are in the search for housing,” she said. “I’m really torn though because I do want to take Chief (Ben) Bohmfalk’s direction on retaining some of the funds for other opportunities again, especially aimed at those groups that may be over 120% AMI (area median income).”
The 10 units dedicated to RFSD staff would mark a total of 126 total units available through the school district allocated to employees. The district’s current inventory includes 66 units in Basalt and Carbondale already occupied by teachers and staff, as well as the 50-unit Meadowood project in Carbondale that is expected to be finished in Mid-September.
Board Director Jasmin Ramirez emphasized the critical decision for staff retention.
“I feel very strongly that we should commit as a district,” she said. “This is not just about teacher retention but an opportunity that other organizations in the valley will take advantage of.”
Bohmfalk explained the district’s financial aspects regarding the decision to contribute the $1 million.
“The million dollar contribution came from our comfort level with money already allocated to housing,” he said. He mentioned the need to maintain some contingency funds and the upcoming 10 year housing master plan, which will provide clearer direction for future projects.
Bohmfalk described the significance of being able to continue to increase staff housing.
“What we’re doing is helping to get 10 staff from the Roaring Fork School District at the front of the line for these units,” he said. “We know there is a need for staff housing in this school district and we are looking to continue to expand and do what we can to provide more units for our faculty.”
When asked if more funds would be required if the priority units increased, Bohmfalk clarified that a later discussion would need to take place with the board.
The next regularly scheduled board meeting is set for Aug. 28.
