District staff told the committee they have explored a possible partnership with Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE) to develop workforce housing on land the district owns at West Fortieth and that the plan would focus on housing for district employees.

Superintendent Dr. Robertson (presenting the proposal) said the idea is to lease district land to CNE, which would design, finance, build and operate apartment units targeted for school employees such as cafeteria workers, educational assistants and teachers. Robertson said initial concept drawings showed about 70 new units in the outer grounds around the existing West Fortieth building, with a potential later renovation of the existing building if the project grows. “We were looking at West Fortieth,” Robertson said, and added the first phase would leave the existing programs in the West Fortieth building in place while new units are built around the property.

Staff described rough rent targets discussed with CNE (characterized as planning targets in the presentation): about $950 for a one‑bedroom, $1,450 for a two‑bedroom and $1,950 for a three‑bedroom. Robertson and staff stressed these were illustrative figures and said financing and underwriting would determine final rents and whether some units could be further subsidized for lower‑paid employees. The district said it has discussed the project with the county and city mayoral offices and would return to the board with an MOU and due diligence materials for review.

Board members raised operational questions: one member noted West Fortieth currently houses programs such as graduation support and McKinney‑Vento services and asked whether those operations would remain; staff replied the first phase would keep the existing programs in the building. Another board member cautioned that transit access matters if lower‑paid employees rely on public transportation; staff acknowledged and said site selection would consider transportation access.

Why it matters: Workforce housing near employment sites is a growing local policy tool to aid recruitment and retention for public employers. The district said this would be a leased‑land arrangement with CNE financing, rather than a direct capital investment by the school system, and that the project would return to the board for formal approval of any land lease or MOU.

No formal land lease or MOU was approved at the meeting; staff said they would return with more detailed financials and a proposed MOU for board consideration.