The St. Wolfgang lunchtime care is "booming"

At St. Wolfgang Primary School, the need for afternoon care is increasing. © Johanna Furch

Various models for lunchtime care are being tested in St. Wolfgang. A working group discusses the right solution.

St. Wolfgang – All-day care for schoolchildren is a task for the future for all municipalities. In St. Wolfgang, the lunchtime care is "booming", as treasurer Julia Schwarzenbeck explained in the municipal council meeting. There are over 50 registrations, and the demand is increasing. The working group for this topic is now to work out a comparison of the Open Gantagesschule (OGTS) and extended lunchtime care. This was decided unanimously by the municipal council.

Three models are possible: extended lunchtime care until 16 p.m., an OGTS and an all-day school. "Originally, there was no longer supposed to be any funding for lunchtime care – but it is now being recognized," explained Mayor Ullrich Gaigl (FW). All three models receive the same subsidy for each additional space created. "For St. Wolfgang, an OGTS and extended lunchtime care are an option," says Gaigl.

Until an administrative agreement is signed by all federal states, according to the treasurer, many questions are still unanswered – especially with regard to investment costs. However, one recommendation was: "It absolutely needs a full expansion, because the demand will increase." It is more economical to tackle the issue on an equal footing.

However, the local council spoke out against a maximum expansion. Magdalena Wandinger-Strauß (FW) pointed out the desired modular construction method. "If it's not enough, we'll add a module." Franz Göschl (WG Gatterberg-Schönbrunn) also wants to "expand as needed", after all, it is also a question of personnel. Not only in terms of employees, but also in terms of space, there is slowly a lack of space. "We have to start construction soon," urged Eva-Maria Rottenwaller (CSU), because "it's full to the roof."

But before we can get started, a few questions would have to be clarified. For example, the number of places to be expanded, which has so far been estimated at 80, as well as the consideration of whether it should remain an extended lunchtime care or become an OGTS.

"In the OGTS, there are no costs for parents except for Friday afternoon and lunch," informed Mayor Gaigl. They would have to pay for lunchtime care. However, an OGTS means the obligation for school bus transport, Franz Finger (CSU) pointed out. "We can't avoid a timely parent survey," he said.

"We should not only pay attention to the wishes of the parents, but also check whether it is financially feasible for the municipality," added Günter Kellner (WGA), speaking of costs for bus transport and personnel. In order to get an overview, Florian Axenböck (FW) suggested a comparison of the extended lunchtime care and the OGTS. The aim is to show advantages and costs on the basis of which the committee can decide.