The new primary school would start in August next year. The situation at the Harju school needs to be resolved quickly. The school has again received reports of indoor air problems this autumn.
A new location has been found for the Harju school in Lahti. Next week, the Education Committee will be presented with a proposal to move the Harju primary school to the Paavola campus and merge it with the Tiirismaa secondary school. The new merging primary school would start in August next year.
Previously, the Harju school was planned for the current Tiirismaa site on the hospital hill, but a failed traffic solution changed the plans. In addition, the premises in the former adult education centre in Paavola have been sized larger than the current pupil projections show. The new school is designed for 950 pupils, while the merged Tiirismaa-Harju would have just over 800 pupils, according to current projections.
The forecast was made before the reform of the language curriculum in basic education, which means that pupils will have access to a wide range of language teaching and more options in their local school.
The Harju school is at the end of its road
The situation at Harju school required a quick solution, as the school facilities are at the end of their technical useful life. This fall, reports of indoor air symptoms have started to come in again. For the staff and students of Harju School, this option offers new spaces without years of dodgy space solutions.
Harju school currently has about 200 students and Tiirismaa about 620.
If the board of education approves the proposal, next year’s new students could apply for the first grade in the city center area instead of the Harju school at the Tiirismaa elementary school or the Lotila elementary school operating on the Paavola campus.
The matter will be presented to the board of education at the meeting on Tuesday, November 22. A joint parents’ evening will be organized for school guardians on Wednesday the 23rd.
The matter has been discussed with the personnel of both schools and a joint information and discussion event has also been organized. After the board’s consideration, the proposal goes to the opinion round. The matter will be decided at the board of education’s December meeting.