Dream Point Apartments are filling up fast

Bertie County Schools can now offer future teachers a career perk other districts may not be able to offer - housing opportunities at an affordable rate.

The Dream Point Apartments are one of the benefits Bertie offers potential educators.

“We have every expectation that this has already made a positive impact. Turnover is down and it has been a great tool for recruitment,” said Ron Wesson.

Wesson is the Executive Director of Partners for Bertie County Public Schools and is one of the forces behind the Dream Point project.

The Dream Point project, a teachers housing complex, broke ground one year ago and is already home to some Bertie County teachers. The complex consists of three buildings with eight units in each building. The 24 two-bedroom apartments are being offered to teachers in the district.

The project’s success can be judged by the few apartments still available.

“As of now, we have 17 of the 24 units filled. Several additional units are being held for four teachers from out of the country,” said Wesson. “I have every expectation all will easily be occupied by mid-August.”

The project was launched to assist in attracting teachers to the district. The high cost of housing and the lack of housing for sale in Bertie and surrounding counties was making it difficult for educators to find living accommodations. Dream Point was developed to ease the problem.

Former Bertie County Schools Superintendent Dr. Elaine White advocated for teacher housing over a decade ago. The project has proven her vision was right.

All but two of the occupants are teachers. The original plan was to offer the housing to teachers first and then county employees.

“Currently, one county director who is also on my board of directors that owns the complex, resides there and we also have our new doctor at Rural Health as a tenant,” explained Wesson.

The Dream Point project was the first in what Wesson hopes to be other projects. Currently, there are two companies ready to build other Dream Point-styled complexes within the county and talks are underway for future plans.