Faced with the possibility of 41% of its employees leaving the district over the next five years, the Steamboat Springs School District is taking initial steps to address the affordable housing crisis by exploring the feasibility of creating district-owned housing for employees.

In a letter to the community this weekThe district shared information about the possibility of using land owned by the schools, commonly known as Whistler Park, to address the housing crisis that is limiting the district’s ability to hire and retain staff.

Three scenarios have been developed for the use of the district-owned Whistler Park property.

First, the school district could develop the land to create affordable housing for teachers while preserving some of the land for green space. Second, the district could conduct a land swap with the city and create affordable housing in another location. Finally, the district could sell the land and use the proceeds to purchase housing in another location.

For a year now, the district has been discussing finding solutions to the housing crisis. Superintendent Celine Wicks said the district was simply “doing its due diligence in considering options.”

She added that the plans had been developed with “utmost care and consideration” and that the district had encouraged an “open, transparent dialogue without secrets.”

The housing crisis has had a variety of impacts on the district in recent years and the district has tried to proactively seek a solution, Wicks said.

A housing survey conducted by the district found that 41% of employees live outside Steamboat Springs city limits. In addition, the district has had to “turn down job offers from outstanding, qualified applicants because they were unable to find affordable housing,” the district said in a statement.

The survey also found that only 34% of employees think it is unlikely that they will leave the district in the next five years due to the lack of affordable housing. The remaining 66% said it is “very likely” to “somewhat likely” that they will have to leave their employment.

The increasing number of employees living outside of Steamboat is a concern for schools because “longer commutes impact work-life balance.” To make matters worse, weather complications can increase commute times.

Nine acres of Whistler Park have been owned by the district since 1980. The purchase was originally made with the intention of using the land for future facility projects.

In 1997, the district and the city agreed to use the land as a park. The site currently hosts sporting events and is a community space. If the district decides to develop the land it owns in Whistler Park, it would have to be rezoned.

If the county decides to develop the nine acres, Wicks said there are no plans to develop the entire property, adding that she sees it as important to “preserve the character of the community and value open green space,” especially for children and pets.

Wicks also said there was “no intention for a high-density project,” but stressed that ongoing discussions were preliminary in nature and it was “far too early” to predict the final outcome.

According to the school district, providing affordable housing for teachers is not an uncommon practice in Colorado resort towns. The district cites Aspen, Eagle, Roaring Fork Valley and Telluride as examples and considers providing affordable housing “critical to remaining competitive with other mountain school districts.”

District officials believe that a solution to the housing crisis will help retain teachers and provide more opportunities for students.

The Steamboat Springs School Board will continue the discussion on housing at 4:30 p.m. Monday at Steamboat Springs Middle School, 39610 Amethyst Drive. Wicks said community support and involvement at the school board meeting will be critical.