Jennings pitches closed-school housing plan for Miami-Dade educators

Dr. Bernard W.H. Jennings says Miami-Dade can turn closed or underused school buildings into affordable workforce housing for district employees without raising taxes. The proposal is aimed at easing the county’s teacher-pay and housing crunch while creating new revenue from public property.

Why it matters: - Miami-Dade County Public Schools is facing two pressures at once: lower enrollment and rising concerns that teachers and other staff cannot afford to live in the communities where they work. - Dr. Bernard W.H. Jennings says a single redevelopment strategy could help address both issues while protecting taxpayer investments. - The idea could add housing options for district employees and create a new use for school buildings that might otherwise sit vacant or require ongoing maintenance.

What happened: - Jennings, who is running for the Miami-Dade County School Board District 1 seat, unveiled a plan to study whether selected closed or underused school buildings can be converted into affordable workforce housing. - Jennings said he would work with School Board members, the superintendent, district staff, community stakeholders and the United Teachers of Dade to evaluate the idea if elected. - The proposal is framed as a way to increase school funding without raising taxes.

The details: - The housing concept would be voluntary and would not require teachers or school employees to live in the redeveloped buildings. - The possible eligible workforce includes teachers, paraprofessionals, custodians, security officers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, administrative staff and other district employees. - Jennings said the units would also be open to the public, with the goal of creating more affordable places to live for all citizens. - Jennings said educators and school employees should have a meaningful voice before any recommendation reaches the School Board. - He said any project would need detailed financial analysis, public participation, zoning compliance, building-code compliance, state-law compliance and School Board approval. - Jennings said not every closed campus would be a good candidate for redevelopment. - He said rental revenue could help cover redevelopment costs, property management and maintenance before potentially supporting district priorities such as employee recruitment, retention and educational innovation. - The proposal also aims to avoid the blight often associated with abandoned public buildings.

Between the lines: - The plan reflects a broader argument that school districts should think about public assets as long-term community resources, not just surplus property. - Jennings is also using the proposal to frame himself as an outside-the-box candidate focused on practical solutions rather than only criticism of current problems. - The pitch builds on a real-world precedent in Miami-Dade: Southside Preparatory Academy in Brickell combines a public K-8 school with workforce housing for district employees through a public-private partnership. - Jennings points to other U.S. communities that have reused former school buildings for apartments, workforce housing, mixed-income developments and senior housing. - He also says Miami-Dade could pursue international educational partnerships, drawing on Florida Memorial University’s overseas online education work in Africa.

What's next: - If Jennings wins, he says the next steps would be collaborative review, neighborhood input and a feasibility check for individual properties. - Any redevelopment would move forward only if it proves financially, legally and operationally sound. - Jennings says the broader goal is to strengthen teacher compensation, improve retention and generate new district value without increasing the tax burden.

The bottom line: - Jennings is pitching closed-school redevelopment as a housing and revenue strategy, not just a real-estate fix. If viable, the plan could turn idle campuses into assets for Miami-Dade schools and their employees.