Calbe/Bernburg. The crucial phase will begin during the 2027 summer holidays! That is when the extensive refurbishment of the Friedrich Schiller Gymnasium in Calbe is set to begin – with the school moving into containers specially designed for teaching. According to current plans, the necessary preparations will be completed shortly. Then nothing will stand in the way of this mega-project!
The Salzlandkreis is investing around ten million euros in the school in Calbe! “It is the largest single investment in education to date. This shows just how important the grammar school is to us,” says District Administrator Markus Bauer. He describes the project as a key factor in making the Salzlandkreis an attractive place to live, do business and pursue academic research. By the end of 2029, the aim is to have a school that meets modern standards – both in terms of digital facilities and energy consumption.
Anke Meyer, the head of the department responsible for education, explained to the district council what challenges had arisen in the past. She stated that the initial plans had to be revised. This entailed new calls for tenders, further deadlines to be met and significantly higher costs for the project as a whole. However, solutions have now been found to all the issues arising from these unforeseen delays.
“Of course, we’d all like to be further along by now, if only for the sake of the pupils and teachers, who deserve the best possible conditions,” explains Anke Meyer. The project was originally budgeted at around six million euros, with 5.4 million euros coming from the state’s urban development programme thanks to the commitment of the town of Calbe. Construction work is due to begin in autumn 2025.
Work is not expected to get properly underway for another year. As part of this, the Friedrich-Schiller-Gymnasium school building will be fitted with a new façade, new windows and a shading system. This will improve conditions in the classrooms, even when it is hot outside. Indeed, the district administration is aiming to achieve a significant reduction in energy consumption through this refurbishment.
In addition, the building will be fitted with modern facilities to meet operational and safety requirements. This includes ensuring accessibility through the installation of a lift in the school building, as well as the installation of a new ventilation system in the assembly hall. Furthermore, some of the furniture in the classrooms will be replaced. These measures will implement the funding objectives of the ‘Lebendige Zentren’ urban regeneration programme.
The individual elements of the refurbishment are based on the relevant specifications. Head of Department Anke Meyer explains: “We are, of course, aware of the local requirements, but we must also keep a close eye on the project’s cost-effectiveness.” This is also being reviewed by the Office for Property and Construction Management of the State of Saxony-Anhalt, which is responsible for overseeing public properties. For the duration of the refurbishment work, 12 classrooms will be provided in the form of portable buildings, which will be erected near the sports facilities.
At the most recent district council meeting, District Administrator Markus Bauer promised the student council of the Friedrich-Schiller-Gymnasium that he would personally update them on the current state of affairs during an on-site visit. He thanked them for their courage in raising the issue during the residents’ question time at the district council meeting.