Nastola Kirkonkylä school for the exact reasons – condition is a decisive factor in the decision to close

The condition of the school affects further preparation. The board of education also examines the condition of other schools in Lahti and the student number forecasts.

The board of education in Lahti wants accurate information about the condition of Nastola’s Kirkonkylä school.

– If it turns out that school is harmful to health, it will affect further preparation and decision-making, says Markkanen.

The Board of Education discussed the situation of the Kirkonkylä school on Thursday 23 January. The possible closure of the school next fall is one of the panel savings options.

According to Markkanen, the cost of operating the school is approximately EUR 600,000 per year. If the school is not closed, the same amount must be taken from somewhere else.

– Everyone can infer what it is. Of course, that is out of teaching. It is out of the everyday life of children. It is out of the number of staff.

Markkanen does not open up in more detail what other possible savings on the board list. However, he emphasizes that the examination of school condition and the number of pupils is done at the entire city level.

The number of students at the school decreases every year

Markkanen understands that closing the church village school next fall would be an unpleasant option. On the other hand, it may be a better option than a sudden ban on the school, so that children should look for temporary facilities elsewhere during the school year.

According to Markkanen, it was already stated in 2021 that the church village school is in the absolute condition. Student forecasts, in turn, have pointed out that in the future, students in the village will fit into the Rakokivi School.

In addition, it has been decided that all first grade students will go to Rakokivi school from August of this year, which means that the number of students in the school will decrease every year.

– In addition, we had a new knowledge that next fall, there will be only one permanent teacher for sixth grade next fall. All other teachers have applied for other schools in an internal search, meaning there is one regular teacher and fixed -term, says Markkanen.