The case in summary: Brattå’s kindergarten in Nøtterøy was suddenly closed, and 119 children lost their kindergarten offer. The municipality has started work on a bankruptcy petition against the kindergarten. The municipality has temporarily taken over the operation of the nursery, and the employees have been offered temporary employment in the municipality. There is still great uncertainty about what will happen next with the kindergarten. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – The status is that the claim we had has not been transferred, says mayor Tom Mello (H). According to the mayor, the municipality will immediately start working on the bankruptcy petition. Mayor Tom Mello (H) believes that the municipality’s most important task is to ensure continuous operation of the nursery school. Photo: Philip Hofgaard / news Last week, 119 children suddenly found themselves without childcare facilities. They happened when a privately owned kindergarten on Nøtterøy was closed with just a few hours’ notice. Subsequently, Færder municipality has asked Brattås barnehage AS to repay around NOK 2.5 million. These were transferred shortly before the closure. Postponed repayment deadline According to the municipality, the million sum should have been used for operations and special educational measures. The deadline for repayment was originally set at 12 noon on Monday. It was later postponed for a day. Municipal director Kristin Kirsebom says the municipality currently does not know exactly what has happened. Municipal director Kristin Kirsebom says that Færder municipality must continuously inform families and employees about the situation. Photo: Fredrik Pedersen / news – We know that the kindergarten has been in a very demanding financial situation. In that sense, we have to assume that you fall behind on your obligations, such as the payment of wages, she says. Owner Trygve Bjarkø has previously said this to news about the subsidies for October: – The municipality has known for over ten years that we have had weak liquidity, and that the subsidy that has been paid out at the end of the month has gone to salaries for the previous month. – Going to ask for tenders Kirsebom says the municipality has had an ongoing dialogue with Bjarkø: – We have understood that the chairman himself will ask for tenders by Monday. We still choose to submit a bankruptcy petition to ensure that there is progress. Brattås kindergarten is located in Færder municipality. Photo: Guro Hatlo / news After being closed for three days, the kindergarten was reopened. Until now, the municipality is responsible for the operation. The municipality has entered into an agreement that allows them to use the premises until 3 November. By then, they hope to clarify what will happen next. Færder believes the best thing is to continue operating in the building for Brattås kindergarten. The aim is to quickly clarify whether the nursery will continue to be operated by the municipality or another actor. Still great uncertainty The Mayor says that the bankruptcy petition will not have any immediate consequences for the operation. – The moment there is a bankruptcy that has been processed in the court system, then it is the trustee who handles the contractual matters. According to the municipality, a bankruptcy will provide faster clarification and greater predictability for the children, guardians and staff in the nursery. The employees at Brattås kindergarten have been offered temporary employment in Færder municipality. The municipal director says they must continuously inform families and employees about what is happening. – They are in an uncertain situation. We have a great understanding of that, says Kirsebom. Published 08.10.2024, at 14.26 Updated 08.10.2024, at 15.50
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Færder municipality petitions Brattås kindergarten for bankruptcy – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
