The possibility of converting the former Veterans Administration campus in Knoxville into a site for residential housing is welcomed by Knoxville’s school superintendent, and she says it will be a boon to the district should it come to pass.

The City of Knoxville plans to acquire and redevelop the property, and converting it to residential use is high on the list of possibilities.

Knoxville Schools District Superintendent Cassi Pearson tells KNIA/KRLS News this would be welcome for the district, because lack of housing and the loss of the VA has driven down school enrollment, and more students means more funding the district can use.

“And that really does make a huge impact, it has a huge impact on the school system,” Pearson says. “New houses mean new families and additional children that weren’t here before; so if we can get our enrollment to actually swing to being increasing…the past ten years or so, it’s really been decreasing since the VA closed their doors.”

Pearson says the district’s decision to maintain its current insurance plan will also be helpful if new housing comes to fruition; Knoxville would then need additional teachers, and this would be an incentive the district can offer while recruiting.

You can find out more about this topic on today’s edition of Let’s Talk Knoxville.