The RSG Wolfsbos school community has submitted a refined plan to the municipality for a new school building. The complex must cost 33.1 million euros and the board is asking Hoogeveen to guarantee the loan of that amount.
During a previous application, the municipality could not yet agree because information was missing. According to the school, the file is now complete.
The two parties met in September to discuss the plan. If a new building is built, the municipality must, in addition to guaranteeing the loan, also spend money itself. For example, for demolishing old buildings and adapting the infrastructure. There was no agreement with the school at the time about the amount and distribution of the amount.
The depreciation period of the new complex also seemed to be a stumbling block. Hoogeveen aims for forty years, while the school had fifty years in mind.
Dries Koster, director of Wolfsbos, is optimistic about the new plans. “We have an excellent, beautiful and responsible plan to realize our new building. This is good for all children in the Hoogeveen region and our staff and also for the municipality.”
In the near future, the municipality will investigate whether the new plan can be implemented and is financially feasible. If the green light can be given, the city council will be presented with the plan at the earliest in early June. It must then become clear whether Hoogeveen will guarantee the investment of 33.1 million euros.
Hoogeveen is responsible for decent educational housing in the region. In addition to the aforementioned demolition of the old buildings, the municipality itself will also have to invest in sports facilities and infrastructure. That is part of the research. “There are still a few steps to take before we give the final green light,” says councilor Mark Tuit.
Wolfsbos and the municipality agree that a new complex should be built. The oldest building in the current complex is fifty years old. The board believes that this will cause many maintenance problems. These problems will be solved with a new complex that will be sustainable and energy neutral.
The complex will be located on the site of the current campus, where the Groene Driehoek and Harm Smeenge schools are located. The various schools will be under one roof in the new building. The De Meander practice location will remain. According to Wolfsbos, that building is still relatively young and does not need to be replaced.
Construction plans are scheduled for this year. The new complex should open in 2025.