School leaders say teacher housing project in Nocatee moving forward; county utilities cleared

DeSoto County School District Superintendent Dr. Bennett told the board on Sept. 23 that talks continue on an apartment development in Nocatee intended to give district employees priority access to housing.

Dr. Bennett said the district's discussions with the developer and county commission have produced positive due diligence results and that utilities have been cleared. He said district employees would be the first priority pool for units, followed by first responders and other community workers; after those priority pools are served, units would open to the wider community. "Right now, our talks have been that our district employees will be first. Our next would be our first responders, firemen, police officers, nurses," Dr. Bennett said.

Why it matters: Dr. Bennett framed the project as both a recruitment and retention tool for teachers who face long commutes and rising fuel costs. He noted the district is pursuing the project to help current teachers and to make recruitment easier when salaries do not keep pace with inflation.

Logistics and next steps: Dr. Bennett said a community meeting is scheduled for Oct. 28 at the Family Services Center to roll out details. He described the district as "excitedly moving forward" but did not identify a developer, contract, or final funding plan during the meeting. Board members did not record a formal vote on the matter in the transcript.

Ending: The superintendent presented the housing plan as a near‑term recruitment aid; specific timelines, unit counts, developer identity and funding sources were not provided in the meeting record.