Below we publish an open letter from the teachers and employees of the Construction School Complex in Bolesławiec.

OPEN LETTER TO THE BOLESŁAWIEC COUNTY STAROST

DEAR STAROST,

We are writing to you in connection with recent media reports concerning the relocation of the Special School Complex to the premises of one of the schools in our county.

We, the community of the Construction School Complex—teaching staff, parents and, above all, students—would like to express our deep concern about the way decisions are being made in this matter. Our concern is heightened by reports appearing in the media that our school is the particular subject of the Starost’s interest as a new location for the Special School Complex. Therefore, we ask the Starost to address our concerns:

1. Why is the decision-making process in this matter shrouded in an air of secrecy and confidentiality, giving rise to suspicions of intentional action on your part or a lack of an idea for resolving the problem?

2. Do you plan merely to add the Special School Complex to the Construction School Complex, or rather to relocate it to the latter’s premises?

3. Our school currently has 396 students. How do you intend to accommodate so many people within the walls of another educational institution?

This seems technically impossible, so we have the right to believe that you intend to place several classes in different institutions, which would effectively paralyze the school’s operations, cause the bonds within the student community to disappear and, in practice, lead to the school’s closure. We cannot agree to this.

4. How do you envision the continued operation of ZSB, most of whose workshops and Examination Centre are part of the school’s fixed assets?

In connection with this question, we also ask the Starost to refer to your own words in our newspaper “Murowany Sukces,” issue four, 2013/2014, where you wrote: “The last few years were decisive for the school’s success. The school’s teachers, its principal—Jacek Jurkiewicz—the head of the education department of the County Office, Alicja Krzyszczak, and I (Dariusz Kwaśniewski) obtained a huge amount of ‘EU’ funding for the school: more than one million three hundred thousand złoty. With this money, we created the most modern vocational workshops in Poland—workshops equipped with equipment that will allow you, the school’s students, to gain a genuine ‘trade’! Remember this, because not every school can boast of it! Twelve modern workshops were established at the school, including estimating, concrete, plastering, reinforcement, painting, wallpapering, masonry, floor and wall work, as well as a surveying workshop. With such equipment, you will become a master in your chosen profession.”

5. If the institution is relocated, what will you say to the student community for whom you recently opened the long-awaited sports complex?

6. What will you say to the Parents’ Council, which partly consists of your voters and which actively contributed to the costs of equipping and renovating classrooms?

7. What will you say to the vocational teachers who often, at their own expense and in their private time, helped create workshops for students of construction and forestry?

8. How do you envision the Special School Complex operating in ZSB’s buildings, whose architectural solutions meet none of the requirements for working with people with disabilities: the corridors and stairwells are narrow; there is no proper parking area, ramps, cafeteria, gymnasium or lifts (ZSB consists of three buildings)?

Admittedly, multipurpose sports fields appeared during the current school year, but they can be used only for a few months of the year. For most of the time, however, the children would be confined to claustrophobic, poorly lit spaces. The amount allocated for adapting the rooms would lead to the creation of a façade of “decent conditions,” but in fact the situation of children with disabilities from our county would not improve. On the contrary. Such action could only intensify the bitterness of the parents of these children, who have been promised improved educational conditions for their children for years.

9. Is there really no building anywhere in our county renovated with PFRON funds and adapted to the educational needs of students with disabilities?

10. Why do you believe that the disintegration of our institution would make it possible to maintain the high level of education at our school—in our view and yours?

We are deeply convinced that the school we have the pleasure of helping to create achieves very good educational results, as demonstrated by the achievements of our graduates in their matriculation examinations. For example, in 2014 and 2015, the pass rate among graduates of technical schools at the voivodeship level was 69% and 68%, respectively; in our county, it was 82.4% and 80.7%; and at our school, 82.1% and 83.1%. In our view, these results place us near the top of the county.

11. What will happen to the Labour Corps operating at ZSB?

We kindly ask the Starost to respond to our questions and concerns as soon as possible, as this is having a negative effect on the mood among our young people. At the same time, we would like to assure you that we fully understand the problem that you, as Starost, must resolve. However, under no circumstances can or do we want to agree to the “dismantling” of an institution whose success we—teachers, students and parents—have worked toward for so many years. In conclusion, we would like to quote another statement of yours published in our school newspaper: “Dear middle-school student, there was a time—but many years ago—when people did not speak very well of the construction school. But the teachers’ fully committed work, modern school management, numerous renovations and investments, and finally the creation of excellent workshops using EU funds caused the Construction School Complex to become a leader among schools providing vocational education in our voivodeship. Become its student and you will see that this is … the absolute truth.”

We also express the hope and deep conviction that your words yesterday—“Because a municipality is a municipality and a county is a county … and only the well-being of our students matters”—were indeed written sincerely.
The well-being of children is also most important to us. First and foremost, the well-being of children with disabilities, who have been promised improved conditions for years. These children, their parents and the employees of the Special School Complex deserve a modern, comfortable and safe building in which there will be real opportunities for effective work. But the current and future students of the Construction School Complex likewise deserve the care of the governing authority. Young people have the right to train in professions that will guarantee employment on the local and foreign markets. Construction was, is and will remain one of the most important branches of the economy, and graduates of vocational schools and technical schools alike will find employment in this sector.
A great deal of money was invested in equipping the workshops precisely so that children could learn a trade on site, under the most favorable conditions possible. If the governing authority decides to merge or close the schools, this will amount to a massive waste of those public funds, primarily harming children with disabilities and young people who will be deprived of the opportunity to study in the favorable conditions that all of us—including the Starost—have developed over the years.
Next year, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of our school’s existence. We deeply hope there will be an opportunity to celebrate together.

Yours sincerely,

ZSB teaching staff, ZSB administration and support staff,
Student Council
Student community,
Parents,
Retired ZSB employees,
Graduates