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The city council will discuss the service network on Monday - the mayor proposes that the Eastern school and daycare center will not be built

21.3.2024 Releases Participate and influence Service network Decision making Program for a stable economy

Riihimäki city council will discuss the service network of schools and kindergartens at its meeting on Monday, March 25. City manager Jouni Eho proposes to the board that the city does not build the Eastern school and the kindergarten and gives up the Peltosaari school in 2026.

The proposal also includes the abandonment of Lasitehtaa school and the evaluation and possible abandonment of the use of the main building of the Junailijanjakatu kindergarten. Both would be scheduled for the year 2027. As a result of the abandonment of the glass factory school, a place is being sought from the connection of other schools for teaching that requires special support.

Costs increased significantly

The mayor justifies his proposal with the significant increase in the costs of the Itäinen school and kindergarten, the decrease in the number of children and the stable economy program launched by the city council.

The cost estimate for the Eastern school and daycare rose to 26,8–28 million this week. When the project started, the price was estimated at 13,2 million euros. The council has budgeted 20,1 million euros for the project.

The three-tiered school and kindergarten were supposed to be completed by fall 2026. Triple-tiered means that each grade has three parallel classes.

The number of primary school students is decreasing

The number of elementary school students in Riihimäke will decrease by more than four hundred students by the fall of 2029. As a result of the significant decrease in the number of students, in 2029 there will be at least 17 teaching groups less in basic schools than in the current academic year. In the service network plan approved by the council in 2022, the size of the age group is defined as 240 children. In recent years, the size of the age group has been significantly smaller, only about 200 children.

The city council decided on the preparation of a stable economy program in December 2023. The city government started the preparation in January 2024. The goal of the program is to adapt operations, structures and resourcing so that the economy is sustainable in the long term. Reaching the goal requires that the city's finances and assets are managed in a planned, responsible and balanced manner.

Check out the agenda of the city council meeting on our website.

Get to know the stable economy program.

Additional information