All over the country there are strong protests against school closures. In the interior, children and parents lost the battle. Today, banners and posters have been raised high outside the town hall in Svolvær. In chorus, “Let the village live.” Let the village live. Let the village live” shouted at the top of their lungs. On 12 April this year, Vågan mayor Vidar Thom Benjaminsen (R) stood on the podium in the gymnasium at the brand new school on Gimsøy in Lofoten. Many people showed up to protest against school closures before Monday’s municipal council meeting in Vågan. Photo: Private – We will focus on youth and the children, said the mayor. The price tag for the school building was NOK 87 million. He also used the opportunity to brag about former SP mayor Frank Johnsen and the others who decided to build the school. The mayor believed that the predecessor had made a brave and good choice. And he said he was looking forward to the residents being able to use the school for many years. But since then, optimism has turned to pessimism in Vågan. Last year Vågan municipality had a loss of NOK 71 million. This year, they are steering towards a new NOK 40 million deficit. In addition, they are on the so-called Robek list. news has previously written about the proposal to switch off all the street lights in the municipality. The investigation will include the following changes: Laukvik – Continue as today. Digermulen – Continued as today. Laupstad – Move the entire early childhood center to Svolvær. Skrova – Move the secondary school to Svolvær, but establish a distance learning service at the school in Skrova for days when it may be appropriate. Henningsvær – Move secondary school to Kabelvåg. Keep the primary school as it is today. Strauman – Move secondary school to Kabelvåg. Merge primary school with Gimsøy, located at Strauman upvekstsenter. Gimsøy – Move secondary school to Kabelvåg. Merge primary school with Strauman, located at the Strauman childcare centre. Close the nursery temporarily. The effect is a temporary closure of the childcare centre. Source: press release from the Conservative Party, FRP, Liberal Party and MDG in Vågan. – I don’t quite remember what I said to be completely honest. Now the same mayor has proposed to close down the brand new school. Today, the majority in the municipal council decided to proceed with the case. – Do you still think that your predecessor made a brave and right choice when they decided to build the school? Mayor Vågan Vidar Thom Benjaminsen believes the funding model that underlies the municipalities is scandalous. Photo: Vilde Bratland Erikstad / news – Now I was invited to give an opening speech. I had to be positive. I couldn’t stand there to say anything other than that. I don’t quite remember what I said to be completely honest, says Benjaminsen and adds: – At the time, we had faith that we would be able to turn it around. We have completely lost that faith with the extremely poor income base we have today. Deep economic crisis The background for the cut proposals is about Vågan’s deep economic crisis. According to the mayor, the municipality has collected NOK 57 million in property tax. Now Vågan is turning over all stones to get the budget to balance. – When we have no money, we have to ask ourselves what on earth we are going to do. We must consider closing the cultural center, which is also relatively new, closing schools and removing important measures for children and young people. We look at absolutely everything, says the mayor. The cause of the problems is, among other things, price growth and interest rate increases. But the politicians have also been warned. In 2021, the position, led by the Center Party, decided to build the new school on Gimsøy. It happened despite the municipality director warning and saying that the municipality could not afford it. Protests against school closures outside the town hall in Svolvær Photo: Private Now the Conservatives and Liberals are proposing to send the primary school pupils to Strauman Upvekstsenter and the secondary school pupils to Kabelvåg. The kindergarten is proposed to be temporarily closed. Residents in shock On Gimsøya, the approximately 230 residents are in shock. Today, the same parents who heard the mayor speak almost half a year ago protested outside the town hall where the elected representatives gathered for a municipal council meeting. Among them were Elvira Gjendahl Remme (6) and Mariell Gjendahl Remme (12). – It is a bit silly that they intend to send kindergarten children by bus several hours a day, says Mariell Gjendahl Remme (12). Here with little sister Elvira Gjendahl Remme (6). Photo: Trude Furuly / news – If they close the school here, many will have to move and we will have no free time. Almost all of our free time will be spent riding the bus. It’s not good, says Mariell and adds: – I do turning four days a week, but I can’t do that then. – Did you get to speak to any of the politicians? – We saw several of them, but think there were more who entered the back door. The nail in the coffin for the village – We have stood in front of the door so the politicians have to look us in the eye, says FAU leader Knut Arne Karlsen at Gimsøy upvekstsenter to news. FAU leader at Gimsøy School, Knut Arne Karlsen. Photo: Trude Furuly / news He and the other parents cannot understand how anyone can suggest closing down a school that has only been allowed to live for a few months. – It’s absolutely crazy, says FAU leader Karlsen. If the school is closed, it will be the nail in the coffin for Gimsøy, believes FAU representative Knut-Erik Remme. – The school is the heart of the village. We do not imagine that Gimsøy has any future as a living community without the school. – It is perceived as a mockery of our children, says Knut-Erik Remme. Photo: Trude Furuly / news Published 28.10.2024, at 22.53
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Considering closing down the brand new school at Gimsøy – news Nordland
