Journalists were particularly interested in the draft organizational changes to the structure of education in Legnica. The plan involves closing Lower Secondary School No. 7 in Legnica, the Agricultural Technical School, the Geodetic Technical School and the Veterinary Technical School; transferring education in the professions of agricultural technician, surveying technician and veterinary technician; and dissolving the Wincenty Witos Agricultural Schools Complex in Legnica. These schools are to be closed on 31 August this year, and from 1 September education is to be transferred to the Construction Schools Complex, allowing all students to continue their studies in their existing specializations from 1 September. The Construction Schools Complex has all the necessary technical and accommodation facilities to make such a merger fully possible and effective.

These changes are prompted by negative demographic trends and low student enrollment at the Agricultural Schools Complex. Over the past ten years, the number of lower secondary school graduates has fallen by half. This is a process observed throughout the country. The reorganization was planned in accordance with the law, in the most optimal way for both students and teachers. It was also consulted with school pedagogical councils and students’ parents. The Construction Schools Complex will, of course, continue to provide training in construction-related professions as well.

Tadeusz Krzakowski also presented changes to the city’s 2015 budget, whose approval he will propose to the City Council at its next session. Expenditure, mainly on investments, will increase by more than PLN 4.3 million. An additional PLN 1.7 million will make it possible to complete the construction of an integrated traffic and public transport management system this year. PLN 1.2 million will fund the construction of a new road system in the area of Wrocławska Street, near the new headquarters of the Tax Office. To improve the effectiveness of police operations, the city will provide PLN 320,000 in funding for the purchase of operational vehicles. Another PLN 80,000 will be used to build sewer connections and thermally upgrade municipal tenement buildings.

It is also planned to allocate PLN 50,000 to announce an architectural and urban-planning competition for developing a concept for the development of Słowiański Square. This will be another step in revitalizing the city center. The winning concept will form the basis for preparing the documentation. “I want this place to become a square of agreement rather than conflict in the future,” the president emphasized.

Thanks to the proposed budget changes, the subsidy that the city plans to provide, in line with its policy of saving Legnica’s historic monuments, for renovating the interior of Legnica Cathedral may amount to PLN 200,000.

UM Legnica/ii