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If you build it, they will teach.

That’s what Justin-Siena is counting on.

In an effort to recruit and retain teachers and staff, the private Catholic high school would like to build eight single family cottages at its north Napa campus.

The housing – with rents set at affordable rates — would be available for the school’s faculty and staff, many of whom are currently commuting into Napa County from cities throughout the Bay Area.

“It’s the right project at the right time,” said Patrick Gleeson, president of the Justin-Siena Foundation. If all goes as planned, the school said it believes it can provide housing for as many as 16 faculty and staff, plus assorted family members. There are 70 such employees at the campus and 545 students.

“There’s a national teaching shortage to begin with. And couple that with the high cost of living in the Napa Valley, to retain and attract the (most) capable teachers we can we’re looking to be as creative as we can,” said David Holquin, school president.

“Ultimately what we want is to provide the best quality education for our students and that means having the best quality teachers,” he said.