The County Complex of Special Schools and Institutions is an eyesore. The facility has needed a thorough renovation or a new building for years. The county took over the building from the state in poor condition in 1999 and—in our opinion—has changed very little in it over nearly 15 years. Instead of ensuring the comfort of children with disabilities, the county is building a new headquarters costing millions of złoty, even though officials work in much better conditions than the special-school students have ever had.
In a 2010 report, the children's parents believed that the school met no requirements whatsoever; they said it was a picture of misery and despair. The building did not have a proper gymnasium. According to information from the parents, the county office renovated the gym floor only after the wooden floorboards began coming loose. The children's guardians also spoke about an elevator that did not reach the building's top floor, meaning children in wheelchairs had to be carried up the stairs.
Dariusz Kwaśniewski promised in 2010 to move the school to a building on Zwycięstwa Street. The starosta (then a member of the county board) said this would happen by 2012. “In 2012, we will adapt the building to the needs of a special school, and this is no longer science fiction; it is a realistic scenario if the option involving Zwycięstwa Street is implemented,” Kwaśniewski assured the desperate parents.
In 2010, the parents hoped that either someone's heart or conscience would be moved. They did not live to see it. Soon, however, they may be able to visit the new County Office headquarters, which will surely be adapted to the needs of people with disabilities.
