The elementary school is already unable to cope with the available space, but at the latest when the legal entitlement to all-day care takes effect from 2026, more space will be needed.
An extension can hardly be realized that quickly, but there is a solution: the Köhlerstadel.
Schongau – "We definitely have a need for action." City master builder Sebastian Dietrich left no doubt at the city council meeting that action must now be taken immediately.
When planning the expansion of the school center in 2013/2014, the number of pupils was very different from what actually developed.
A requirement of 17 classrooms with a maximum of 400 students was specified for the primary school.
Forecast: numbers falling by two percent.
That all changed in 2015 with the arrival of many refugees who stayed.
100 students more than predicted in 2013/2014
“The additional need was recognized at the time.
And the trend has continued,” says Dietrich.
Many families would come to Schongau, and there was probably a trend reversal in the number of births.
It is now assumed that there will be 100 more students than originally forecast, and only for the year 2030 would the demographic mirror predict a slight drop in Schongau to 480 students.
The extended Staufer elementary school was built for 19 classes, the foundation stone was laid in mid-2017 and the official inauguration in mid-2019. There are currently 21 classes.
What is causing further distress for the city: as early as 2026, parents of primary school children should have a legal right to all-day childcare for their children.
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For all-day care you need additional space, which you want to create in the Köhlerstadel.
© Hans-Helmut Herold
Areas are also not free in other schools such as high schools or junior high schools
In the meantime, two approaches to a solution for the elementary school have been investigated: to switch to areas of other schools in the school center (high school and junior high school), but the district cannot offer anything.
Even a change in the school district would have been investigated, as the managing official Bettina Schade explained.
It was considered that for children from Schongau-West the way to Altenstadt might be shorter than to the school center.
"There too, enough space would be the prerequisites, but in Altenstadt one could only make one classroom available with great difficulty," says Schade.
Her conclusion: "That was checked, but without a solution, there is only the possibility of investing in the school center."
The rooms of the after-school care center can easily be attached to the school
One is not so badly positioned, as the city master builder roughly outlined.
Because the rooms of the after-school care center on the upper floor of the primary school are designed in such a way that they can easily be attached to the school.
As an alternative to all-day care, the building authority proposes converting previously unused areas in nearby Köhlerstadel into classrooms.
The youth center and town band are to remain, but the museum's depot areas are to be used, and the entire top floor is only to be used as storage space.
"There are still many reserves in this building," says Dietrich.
"That would be a good way to implement a quick solution for the primary school, because the horizon until 2026 is extremely short."
At the same time, however, one should tackle the long-term measure: the extension building that was originally planned, but was then not pursued further at the beginning of the planning phase for cost reasons, as part of the general renovation of the middle school.
According to Dietrichs, this cube can only be built after the middle school has been completely renovated.
Because the container system will first be set up on that area in order to accommodate the middle school students well during the general renovation.
"Construction would then start in 2025 at the earliest," Dietrich estimated.
Rather put money in the Köhlerstadel than in interim buildings
The city councilors did not see any short-term solution other than the Köhlerstadel.
"We have no other choice, and it makes more sense to invest municipal money in permanent systems," said Ilona Böse (SPD).
However, she suggested that the premises for the school center should be planned as multifunctional as possible and that the architect should also be able to do this.
"Demand changes so quickly, you have to be able to react flexibly." Schade also emphasized the importance of flexible solutions, and the number of students is certain to increase.
More classrooms were urgently needed, but the Ministry of Education had adjusted the size of the classes at short notice.
There is no cost framework yet
"I am pleased that the needs of our school are now being taken seriously," said Gregor Schuppe (ALS), who appealed to his colleagues to tackle the Köhlerstadel as an interim solution.
Dietrich has not yet been able to name a budget.
The city council voted unanimously to get involved in the plans to convert the Köhlerstadel for all-day school care.
By the way: everything from the region is also available in our regular Schongau newsletter.
And in our Weilheim-Penzberg newsletter.
By the way: everything from the region is also available in our regular Schongau newsletter.
And in our Weilheim-Penzberg newsletter.