At the 22nd session of the Bolesławiec County Council, the concept of “Moving the Bolesławiec County Special Schools and Institutions Complex to a new location or adapting the existing facility” was presented. The topic sparked a heated discussion, which is why the Bolesławiec County Board issued a statement on the matter:
Ladies and Gentlemen Councillors, Dear Sir or Madam,
The aim of the work of local government officials is to meet residents’ needs and solve their problems. The decisions we make for this purpose are sometimes difficult, but necessary.
One of the problems we have been dealing with for several months, and which has existed since the county began operating, is the need to resolve the special school’s premises problem. In accordance with the declarations made, today we are presenting a concept for resolving this problem. We agreed to do so during a joint meeting of all the permanent committees of the County Council, held in January this year. We emphasise that the concept presented today includes the necessary conditions we specified at that time. First, none of the existing upper-secondary schools will be closed or merged with another. Second, the special school will be located in a new building that will significantly improve the standard of work with the students of the ZSiPS. These conditions have been met. The concept presented today involves moving the special school to newly constructed premises located next to the II LO building in Bolesławiec. It therefore concerns the expansion of this school. The new building will enable the special school to operate without the need to limit the functions and tasks of the secondary school. It is a functional, modern and, importantly, financially rational solution that will offer both schools opportunities for development.
We emphasise that both schools will operate as separate organisational units of the county. They will have two independent entrances to the school. The structural solutions do not impose any need for the schools to integrate, although this is of course possible. The presentation of our concept during public consultations provoked protests and strong emotions. While the fear of the “new” can be understood, some of the arguments raised against this concept are surprising. The concern expressed by secondary-school teachers that the special school’s proximity to the secondary school could reduce its popularity because of the presence of intellectually disabled children may be troubling. The concept will be refined, and discussions with the interested parties will continue.
We still have time to make the final decision because the decision on our application for EU funding to reconstruct road 2271 D Osiecznica–Rudawica and the bridges along it has been delayed. The funding issue for the road and bridges should be decided in October this year. It is also significant that as many as 14 applications are participating in the call. We will therefore make the final decisions in the autumn. They will be consulted and adapted to the county’s financial capabilities.
What do you think?
Bolesławiec County/i