Open two thousand « new » preschool space

The City of Reykjavik plans to open almost two thousand « new » kindergarten space in the next five years. Only about half of these new proposals are new, and it is not yet clear how the staffing problem in the city’s kindergartens should be tackled.

The City Council today approved ambitious proposals from the mayor’s sprint group for increased preschool development that could deliver up to 1,987 preschool space. With this, the number of kindergarten space in the city would increase by a third.

But many of these proposals are not new and it is still unclear how some proposals will be funded.

« This is a mix of older decisions and new ones, » says Skúli Helgason, chairman of the sprint group and the Citizen Representative of the Social Democratic Alliance. However, what is « brand new » in Approved City Council is reportedly Skúla 900 space that will be created due to nine new buildings, and 164 new spaces that will be created with portable houses in operating kindergartens.

The proposals also say that 264 space will be « recovered after the construction of construction », but some kindergartens have been closed in recent years due to mold. Then it says that an additional 730 space has already been determined in the action plan bridges the gap, but these spaces are already expected in the city’s investment plan.

Nine new kindergartens returns nine dog new space

In the proposals Nine development projects are proposed; Three new city play schools, one new Hjallastefnákóli, one new kindergarten run by a student social institution, three new housing for kindergartens across the city and a new « possible » kindergarten on Loftleidar field at Hlíðarenda.

« Five of these nine new construction proposals are related to the same agreement. There are negotiations that have come a long way, which is said to be a choice between different bidders, » says Skúli, mentioning the kindergartens Laugasól, Safamýri, Downtown, Sannaás and Ægisborg.

In this month « a final decision will be made on the builders, Skúli adds.

« This is all thought of as a whole where we can reach a more cost -effective result by having a similar design. It will probably mean that the construction time will be shorter and we can get more for less money. »

Estimated completion of a new City School at Rafstöðvegur is next spring, according to proposals.

The shortest project is the « potential » kindergarten on Loftleidar field where there is a negotiation, but the project is « not sufficiently mature to make it included in the number of spaces, » says Skúli.

« Relief Schools » and « Acceleration »

The proposal also states that projects related to the expansion of operating urban preschools should not be accelerated with portable rooms. It should ensure 164 new space. Two such lounges are already under construction that will go on the site of Seljaborg.

In addition, there is a tender for fourteen lounges, which will open for operations during the period spring 2026 to the first half of 2027 on the plots of six kindergartens: Vesturborg, Hólaborg, Jörfi, Árborg, Grandborg and Maríuborg. The cost estimate for the fourteen houses is ISK 2,100 million, according to information from city ​​council.

In addition, the sprint group proposed a « fitness school » in collaboration with the sports clubs in Reykjavik. It will emphasize the diverse movement and outdoor activities of the preschool children, with better utilization of sports facilities in the city for the youngest generation.

Thus, the sports facilities could be used as a kindergarten, so that they do not lie empty during the day. Runners have shown this interest.

« This is just an idea that we want to go into conversations with the sports clubs, » says Skúli. « We have started in conversation with Val about the Hlíðarendas area, where they have come a long way with the idea of ​​building a multi -use gymnasium and then we are exploring the possibilities that it could be partially used as kindergarten.

In addition, stock grants will also be taken up to a maximum of 300 m.kr. to encourage the increase in space in self -employed kindergartens.

And the staffing problem?

The Independence Party City Council pointed out in their booking at the meeting today that funding for the development and measures to ensure the staffing of the proposed space.

Certainly, the group proposed to look at changes in preschool rules that were intended to improve the status of preschool and working conditions, MA by « better coordinating the working hours of preschool and elementary school staff ».

However, the proposals do not propose direct actions, but a new steering committee will review ideas from the School and Leisure Division. That group has a month to submit proposals, according to Skúla.

Progress: Few new under the sun

« But then these big things are like it has just finished collective bargaining, » he says. « And this great development plan is going to improve working conditions. We are offering much better housing than we have been able to do before. »

The Progressive Party City Council pointed out in his protocol that it was not a new plan – with the exception of « fitness schools » that would be worth exploring – but a new majority would have to acquire a job of the previous majority. It would also be sorry to see that last year’s proposal for initial grants for self -employed kindergartens for preschool development had changed, which states that « grants are based solely on companies that are not operating for profit. »

« In Progress, it is natural for the parties that run kindergartens to pay a moderate dividend from their activities, provided that public money will flow to school work, » the progressives write.

In the last section the reimbursement is a total overview of projects in channels that are supposed to increase the number of preschool space from the current position.

It is both a recovery of space following the work of maintenance work, new removable units at kindergartens, the enlargement of kindergartens with annexes and new buildings.

As mentioned earlier, there will be 264 recovery after the completion of the project and 730 are added due to Bridges the gap.