The Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD) announces the redevelopment plans in front of the Red City Hall. Right: School Senator Astrid-Sabine Busse (SPD) Copyright: Sven Darmer Photo: Sven Darmer
By Sara Orlos Fernandes
Berlin’s Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (44, SPD) makes the renovation of the ramshackle school at Europasportpark a top priority. The dilapidated high school will finally be completely renovated from 2024 for 40 million euros.
The parents and students were very relieved yesterday when Giffey announced the plans that had just been decided on in front of the Rotes Rathaus. While the government debated with the education senate, financial administration, district councilor and school representatives, parents and students protested in front of the government seat. Father Dirk Shows (38): “It’s not possible that the school is in a state that the children freeze to death in winter.”
Schoolchildren and parents demonstrated in front of the Rotes Rathaus on Friday Photo: Sven Darmer
The school has been fighting for the urgently needed construction work since 2016. The condition did not leave Giffey cold when she visited school last Friday. “A school like that is unacceptable,” she said.
That is why she is taking an exceptional approach: in addition to the school renovation offensive, she is now distributing 40 million euros.
Dilapidated shack: The dilapidated grammar school at Europasportpark in Prenzlauer Berg urgently needs to be renovated Photo: Olaf Selchow
As early as January, the upper school is to be given an alternative location on Landsberger Allee due to a lack of space. From 2024, all 800 students will have to move to a former substation in Wilhelmsruh for the duration of the renovation work.
Mold in a classroom Photo: Annette Riedl/dpa
Originally, the grammar school at Europasportpark was supposed to wait until 2026 for renovation. Another school was at the top of the priority list due to missing documents.
Giffey generally wants to stick to the restructuring plan: “We will give the Berlin school building offensive a new boost by increasing the funds to a total of over two billion euros in 2022 and 2023.”
Niklas (13): “In our classroom, only two windows can be opened. It’s always stuffy” Photo: Sven Darmer