The city council decided to start work on updating the early childhood education and basic education service network

9.12.2025 News Participate and influence Town council Service network Decision making Program for a stable economy

A woman holds a wooden gavel in her hand, which she is tapping against a small wooden platform resting on a white table. A bright, spacious conference room is visible in the background.

At its meeting on Monday, December 8, 2025, the Riihimäki City Council discussed, among other things, updating the early childhood education and basic education service network. The service network refers to the locations where the city organizes its services, such as schools and daycare centers.

The City Council discussed the launch of an update to the service network at its meeting on December 1. The decision to propose an update to the service network was made because the number of children has decreased significantly. In 2014, 309 children were born in Riihimäki, while in 2024 only 154 children were born.

The delegates made three changes

The City Council decided to initiate the updating of the early childhood education and basic education service network. The City Council made three changes to the City Board's decision proposal on updating the service network.

Councillor Hannele Saari (kd) proposed that the section listing which units could be excluded from the service network review be removed from the decision. According to the City Council's proposal, Uramo School could be excluded from the review, Eteläinen koulu and the Uunilinnu, Piikinmäki and Uramo daycare centers. The city council unanimously approved Saari's proposal. This means that no unit will be excluded from the service network.

Councillor Sari Jokinen (Greens) proposed adding to the decision that the impacts of different service network scenarios on children and young people of early childhood education and basic education age, as well as on the environment, be assessed. The City Council unanimously approved Jokinen's addition.

According to the City Council's proposed decision, the report must include alternative scenarios for consolidating the service network and the impacts of the different options on personnel, properties, housing and zoning. This was left to the City Council to decide.

Councillor Arja Tylli (left) proposed that a sentence be added to the decision stating that the update work will focus on customer-oriented service network design. The City Council also unanimously approved Tylli's proposal.

According to the decision, a preliminary assessment will be prepared of the impacts of updating the service network, which will include consultation with guardians, students and staff.

The target for completion of the upgrade work is May 2026.

The continuation of the stable economic program was noted for information.

At the meeting, the city council also noted the preparation of the continuation of the stable economy program. The city board decided on the preparation of the continuation at its meeting on December 1, 2025. The goal is to complete the continuation of the program during May 2026.

This was the last meeting of the City Council for 2025. The next meeting will be held on Monday, February 2, 2026.