The South Routt School District has partnered with developer John Eastman of HappyLane LCA to provide dedicated housing for district employees, aiming to address challenges in recruiting and retaining quality staff linked to limited local housing options, according to a statement released Wednesday. 

The innovative agreement secures two full housing units — a two-bedroom and a one-bedroom — and access to a flexible studio unit that can serve as a standalone home or be combined with other units to meet diverse employee needs. 

“HappyLane Co-op is excited to partner with the South Routt School District to provide affordable and sustainable housing opportunities within a short walk of the South Routt Middle and High Schools,” said Eastman in the statement.

“The co-op’s innovative shared equity model provides district employees with the benefit of home ownership with the flexibility of leasing,” he added. “Thanks to this partnership, construction on the next phase of the Oak Creek Commons development will start in spring 2026.” 

The statement noted that the South Routt School District is one of only seven in the state to be rated as “Accredited with Distinction” for three consecutive years. 

“The South Routt community deserves the best, and that’s the commitment the district is making for both students and staff,” said Superintendent Kirk Henwood in the statement.  

In an email to the newspaper, Henwood said that occupancy will be based on a first-come, first-served basis, with no fixed-income cap. The district will track employees expressing interest in seeking housing and allocate the units accordingly, with priority toward employees without stable local housing. 

One of the full units will be available “soon,” he added, while the other units are set to be open by late spring. Occupants must be employed by the district to qualify. 

“This is the school board’s long-term commitment in the district’s ability to attract and retain quality staff in a very housing-scarce market,” said Henwood in the email. “We hope it can serve as a model for other rural districts facing similar challenges.”