Sonoma students propose affordable housing options

Sonoma’s affordable housing problem is a concern for the Sonoma County’s Board of Supervisors, for the Sonoma City Council and, last week – for two dozen math students at the Presentation School.

Math teachers Joel Kuschner and Mary Favaro gave their algebra-readiness and honors-algebra students two weeks to research, design, cost out and build scale models of affordable housing designs.

In addition to designing their buildings to scale (1 inch to 1 foot), students had to choose how many bedrooms, bathrooms and closets to include and to price out flooring, electrical, plumbing, roofing, appliances, windows and doors, and make choices that balanced priorities of low cost, high utility and attractiveness.

Each team of students also had to produce a marketing brochure and a sales pitch that they delivered to guests at a showcase in the school gym on Dec. 18.

Sonoma Mayor Madolyn Agimonti attended the showcase and said, “It’s obvious to me that the students understood the concept of affordability, but also put value into the house for families to be comfortable and happy.”