Below we present the open letter from the councillors, in which they propose, among other things, an alternative solution to the starosta and encourage him to take seriously the declaration made by the Mayor, Mr Piotr Roman, at the last session of the County Council, expressing his willingness to take over county education or at least the Special School, which provides primary and lower-secondary education.
Czy miasto powinno przejąć powiatową oświatę?
Bolesławiec, 9 December 2015
Mr Dariusz Kwaśniewski
Starosta of Bolesławiec County
We are deeply concerned about the situation in county education. The recent events related to the Construction School Complex demonstrate, contrary to what we hear during council sessions, serious errors or a lack of competence in the management of education. Situations that endanger students, their parents and teachers must not be created or allowed to arise. The current situation is a bad example for young people and a poor lesson in democracy. We are obliged to show them that even difficult decisions can and should be made by those in power in a transparent and responsible manner.
To clarify this matter, we ask whether it is true that the difficult situation in education financing is forcing the County Board to close one of the schools. Is the sole reason for the confusion the desire to improve the premises available to the Special School?
We have serious doubts as to whether the decision to transfer the Construction School Complex to another school was well considered. If so, which school would it be, and what would the costs be, particularly those associated with closing and newly equipping specialist offices? Is the closure of this school planned in the longer term? In this situation, was the fate of OHP considered—the organisation responsible for more than 180 young people requiring special care?
If the issue is solely to improve the premises of the Special School, this should be done in an optimal and transparent manner, without causing significant harm to another school.
In our view, it would still be worthwhile to analyse renovating the School’s current premises. This may be economically viable if no non-economic factors are involved, particularly if the costs of relocating two schools, including the necessary adaptation of office and specialist rooms, are properly taken into account. This applies especially to schools providing practical vocational training.
If the Starosta and the County Board wish to pursue the option of relocating to an existing, operating educational facility, such a project must be professionally prepared in several variants, substantively justified and submitted for assessment and opinions by the County Council and the interested communities.
We would like to know what the Special School’s needs are, how many students would be relocated and whether this would also include the ORW. What are the requirements regarding floor space, volume, the number of rooms for lessons and other activities, as well as access, parking, ramps and other facilities?
We would like the County Board to prepare an audit of schools and other educational institutions in terms of their suitability for the Special School. If, in the Starosta’s opinion, any of the facilities fails to meet the requirements or expectations, this should be justified. The study should provide information on all facilities relevant to the Special School’s needs. Furthermore, and this is very important, it should state the current number of students and classes, as well as the demographic forecast and market demand for education in the relevant fields. The study should include an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed locations.
A project prepared in this way should be submitted for assessment by the County Council and the interested communities, as we have already mentioned, and their opinions should be taken into account when making the final decision.
As an alternative solution, we also encourage you to take seriously the declaration made by the Mayor, Mr Piotr Roman, at the last session of the County Council, expressing his willingness to take over county education or at least the Special School, which provides primary and lower-secondary education. Such considerations are particularly justified in the context of the next education reform, which will seriously disrupt its functioning. In this situation, having a single administrator and greater flexibility in managing the facilities would be in the interests of students and teaching staff. There are many good examples of this approach to managing education.
On behalf of the Forum Councillors’ Club
Józef Król
Władysław Bakalarz
Janusz Puzio