School tour: Planning for new Kugelsburg School building begins

In 2023 alone, the district is once again investing over 17 million euros in the modernisation, renovation and new construction of schools in Waldeck-Frankenberg. Numerous school construction projects are also planned for the coming year. Members of the district and school committee recently visited some of them as part of a school tour, talking to the school community and finding out about school types, requirements and individual needs.

Three schools visited
The programme included the Paul Zimmermann School in Korbach, the Valentin Primary School in Helsen and the Kugelsburg School in Volkmarsen. The integrative Paul Zimmermann School also has special room requirements due to its special focus on mental, physical and motor development: In addition to the classrooms, there are special functional rooms for occupational therapy, rest and play units or art and crafts, as well as care rooms and bathrooms and a small exercise pool. In recent years, over three million euros have already been invested in the construction of the new cafeteria, the combined heat and power plant and car parking facilities, the renovation of the sports hall and swimming pool and the design of the playground. In the coming years, there are plans to adapt the site to the specific requirements of the funding programme, which will require an extension, new building or refurbishment.

Helsen primary school ready after the Easter holidays
Valentin primary school in Helsen has also been renovated in recent years. Since 2015, the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg has invested almost four million euros in the renovation of the building, an extension for additional rooms and the construction of a small playing field at the Helsen site. The completion of the most recently realised extension is planned for Easter 2024, so that the primary school, which also has another location in Landau, will offer plenty of space for the 137 pupils currently at the Helsen site.

New Kugelsburg School building planned
The third and most complex project of the schools visited is to be realised in Volkmarsen in the coming years: A new building is planned for the Kugelsburg School on the as yet undeveloped site of the current location. In the past, the sports hall in particular has been renovated at this location. In the school building itself, only minor structural improvements such as the replacement of the windows, the refurbishment of the toilets and small fire safety measures have been implemented in recent years.

Planning to start in 2024
Although the school building dates back to the 1970s, it has structural defects and significant signs of wear and tear. "The structural fabric of the entire building is so worn out that we have decided to rebuild the entire school building," says District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst. "The funds for the planning services have already been budgeted for in the coming year." This new building also takes into account the development of pupil numbers, which have been stable in Volkmarsen for many years.

Building programme more comprehensive than ever
However, the Kugelsburg School is just one of numerous school modernisation measures that the district will be implementing in the coming years. "The need to refurbish our school buildings remains great," says van der Horst. "There have never been so many projects on our agenda as there are now." As capacities and personnel resources are limited, there is a list of priorities - including the refurbishment of schools. However, he continues to emphasise: "We will implement all planned projects - even if there may be delays here and there."

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