North of Timpanogos Middle School, 8.6 acres in Heber City could benefit the Wasatch County School District’s mission of finding affordable housing for educators.
The homes built on the school district-owned land would be unique not because of their location or single-family size, but because Wasatch High School students would build them. That is, with help from an architect and Career and Technical Education (CTE) program teacher, Canyon Prusso.
But the educators who would live in those homes are not the only people who would benefit from expanding the 50-year-old homebuilding program, which is running out of space to build.
Prusso said there’s just one lot left.
Once that’s filled, the program will be out of space to learn how to construct new homes. But his plan to utilize the school district land near the middle school comes with a catch. Right now, the area is zoned for one home per acre.
Prusso appealed to the Wasatch County Council in November, asking for the 9 acres to be rezoned. His goal is to permit a quarter-acre density, which would allow for more homes and more opportunities for both students and teachers.
Though the County Council has not made any formal commitments, officials expressed their support. At the latest school district board meeting, Prusso presented the idea of the small subdivision.
He explained students would build what he calls “pocket neighborhoods,” where clusters of three to eight single-family homes make up a small subdivision of local educators.
“There are so many winners,” Prusso said, adding that students and teachers would benefit from the program’s expansion.
School Board Vice President Cory Holmes had questions, however. He saw the homebuilding program as attempting to solve two problems with the rezoning and subdivision: affordable housing and new space for students to build.
“Personally, I think you have to bridge that gap,” Holmes said.
School Board President Kim Dickerson said on Monday she is “neutral” about the idea and wants to hear more information before making any decisions. Other school board members echoed the sentiment at a meeting last week.
Dickerson said she still sees the value in continuing the homebuilding program.
“The program has strong potential to increase opportunities for students at both Wasatch and Deer Creek high schools and remain a successful, sustainable pathway for our students in the coming years,” Dickerson said.
Prusso said if the rezoning is approved and the board agrees, the homebuilding program could continue for another 20 years or more, building new homes on the nearly 9 acres of district-owned land. Typically, the program builds one home per year. But that rate could increase once Deer Creek High School opens in the fall. Prusso said there is potential to expand both high schools
“We certainly wouldn’t limit (it) to one per year for curriculum reasons,” Prusso said.
So far, the homebuilding program has built mostly along Heron Way in Daniel.
Wasatch School District Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) program director Weston Broadbent said the ultimate goal would be to identify high-performing teachers who need an affordable place to live in the Heber Valley. He referenced a district employee housing needs assessment survey, released in April.
The report offers a comparative analysis of 2023 and 2026 survey results for the district’s total workforce of 1,047 employees (525 teachers, 488 educational support professionals and 34 administrators).
Most employees, about 50%, are between the ages of 45 and 54 and maintain a household income of $120,000 or more. That amount is up from 42%. Most employees, 70%, also own their homes. But that figure is down 6% from 2023.
An estimated 26% of respondents spend more than 30% of their income on housing. That’s up nearly 20% from 2023. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development standard defines spending above 30% on housing as “cost-burdened.”
Nearly 25% of 2026 respondents expressed interest in receiving housing information or assistance, and more than 30% of employees this year plan to move within the next five years. That, however, is unchanged from 2023, with an additional 25% considering it. Combined, nearly 56% are at potential retention risk, according to the report.
Most cite a desire to move because they need more space or want to own a home. A total of 130 survey respondents provided open-ended comments to questions on housing needs and challenges.
“I feel like I will be priced out of a single residential home in Wasatch County,” one comment states.
Another reads, “It would be great to be able to afford a single family home in the community we work for.”
Broadbent said providing affordable housing for educators is crucial. It’s what keeps the school district functioning at a high level with “high-quality” teachers, he said.
Most of the homes built by the homebuilding program at Wasatch High School and possibly Deer Creek High School, he said, would be deed-restricted. That means there would be limits as to how much an individual could sell their home for if they want to move after purchasing.
Broadbent added that there is more demand for renting than buying at the moment.
No matter if teachers are purchasing their homes or renting in Wasatch County, Broadbent said the homebuilding program must continue. Prusso agreed.
The school district asked to hear “more information” on the topic before making any decisions. As the County Council continues to weigh the decision, the homebuilding program may remain in limbo for the time being.