Your School is Closing — But Have You Tried Yatzy?
Ah, autumn! The season where leaves fall, temperatures drop, and local municipalities start contemplating bizarre budget cuts. It seems Vågan municipality in Lofoten is pulling off the ultimate autumn stunt by suggesting the closure of a brand-new school on Gimsøy. Yes, you heard that right! A school that cost a whopping NOK 87 million and has barely had the time to dust off its crayons could face the chopping block. But fear not, this tale of fiscal folly is just beginning.
If you thought your financial situation was dire, take a gander at Vågan, where they racked up a deficit of NOK 71 million last year—slightly worse than your average student debt crisis, I’d say! This year, they’re confidently heading for another NOK 40 million in the red. Honestly, with numbers like that, their budget must look like a drunken game of darts gone wrong.
– So Underfunded It’s Embarrassing
Now, I don’t want to get too political here, but does it get any more embarrassing? Even the local politicians, struggling like a first-year student trying to decipher their textbook, have proposed shutting down schools that were barely out of their glittering opening ceremonies. The Strauman childcare centre, just a sprightly five years old and proudly costing NOK 36 million, is at risk of being given the boot. Talk about a mid-life crisis!
Mayor Vidar Thom Benjaminsen (H) made a statement that sounds suspiciously like a DF quiz question: “Is it paradoxical that it is proposed to close down schools that are barely five years old?” Yes, it is, dear mayor. You know what else is paradoxical? Spending millions on a museum about *skrei* fish while contemplating the closure of childcare facilities. Maybe they should just hire a local fishing expert to throw in a few *cod* puns and call it a day!
– Yatzy in the Municipality
Now, enter Hedda Greger-Pettersen, the head of the Strauman FAU. She’s got some serious sass. She likened the municipality’s budget decisions to a game of Yatzy, throwing dice and hoping for a strike instead of a bust. What. A. Classic! With choices being made seemingly at random, it wouldn’t be out of place to imagine politicians sitting around a table, rolling dice instead of holding meetings.
She raises a fair point: many families chose to settle there under the assumption that the area would remain attractive for years to come. It’s really not just money; it’s about trust! Closing a school is like promising your kid they can have ice cream and then pulling the ol’ “just kidding” routine. That’ll go over well at the dinner table!
– Spent Over 50 Million at the Cod Museum
In a twist that would make any thrifty person’s head spin, more than NOK 50 million has been allocated to build a SKREI museum. Yes, you heard that right. All that money going to a fish museum while schools are on the table for closure. Great priorities, right? A historical deep dive into cod sounds scintillating, but I’d argue that educating kids might be slightly more pressing! How about a museum featuring the educational value of fish finance? “Your school is gone? Here’s some cod wisdom!”
Mayor Benjaminsen, trying to defend his fishy financial choices, mentioned that the museum will develop Kabelvåg, an area in dire need of rejuvenation. Fair play, but one does wonder if that money might’ve been better earmarked for tools to fix the budget mess, or at least buying him a new pair of glasses to see the bigger picture.
– Money, Not Students, is the Problem
Looming over this entire debacle is the steep decline in income that has left municipalities like Vågan scrambling. It’s not the number of kids that’s the issue; it’s that pesky thing called money—or the lack thereof. So while the students trot off to lessons, their education hangs in the balance, dangling like a carrot on a stick that’s just too far to reach.
So, what’s the takeaway here? Maybe it’s time the local government played a good old-fashioned game of Monopoly: build schools, not just fish museums, and stop putting your financial future in the hands of chance!
And if all else fails? Perhaps a local fundraiser where they prepare the *skrei* into gourmet dinners could do the trick. I hear chefs are quite fond of turning fish into top-tier dining experiences while they teach kids about nutrition. If they’re cooking, at least they’re eating right while discussing how to fund their education!
Who knew that municipal economics could be such a fishy affair? If you thought your day was turbulent, just imagine those working in Vågan right now—they’ve got a few Yatzy rolls left to make! Cheers to you, everyone!
This autumn, numerous municipalities and regions have faced significant disturbances due to school closures.
Vågan municipality, located in the picturesque Lofoten Islands, is grappling with a dismal economy, a situation mirrored by many others across the region.
As the month of October came to a close, unsettling news began circulating that local politicians are contemplating the closure of the newly constructed school on Gimsøy, which was recently completed at a staggering cost of NOK 87 million.
However, a glimmer of hope emerged on Monday for the community reliant on the Gimsøy school:
Municipal director Tommy Stensvik has stepped in to offer protection for Gimsøy…
… while advising the closure of the Strauman childcare center, which was opened just five years ago.
– So underfunded that it’s embarrassing
The task of maintaining a balanced budget as the municipal director in Vågan municipality is anything but straightforward.
The municipality recorded a staggering deficit of NOK 71 million last year, and the forecast indicates another NOK 40 million shortfall this year alone.
This financial distress has led them to land on the notorious Robek list, highlighting municipalities struggling to manage their finances effectively.
The bright cultural icons like Svolværgeita become irrelevant when the municipality’s finances are in disarray.
Photo: Trygve Sæten Nilsen/Forsvaret
Conditions have deteriorated to such a point that earlier this summer, there were discussions about cutting desserts for the municipality’s dementia patients.
This grim outlook has resulted in serious considerations regarding the closure of schools to balance the budget.
In a surprising move, the director proposes shutting down the Strauman childcare center, which cost NOK 36 million to establish merely five years ago.
– This outcome is not unexpected. The municipality is facing an incredibly challenging financial landscape, and all options must be thoroughly examined. We aim to familiarize ourselves with the details presented before making a decision next week,
Mayor Vidar Thom Benjaminsen (H) remarked during an interview with NRK.
The mayor likely faces cuts beyond his initial desires.
Photo: Trude Furuly / NRK
– Is it not paradoxical to propose closing schools that are so newly built?
– Yes, it is peculiar, but the economic framework surrounding Kommune-Norway has shifted dramatically, particularly in Nordland. Making choices that benefit citizens is becoming increasingly difficult, necessitating harsh cuts across the board,
he explained.
He points to Bærum municipality, where proposals to eliminate schools, libraries, kindergartens, and nursing homes are on the table.
– The situation speaks volumes when even the wealthiest municipality in Norway is compelled to reevaluate its school structures. Kommune-Norge faces such severe underfunding that it is embarrassing. Unfortunately, municipalities have little choice.
– Yatzy in the municipality
– We find this absolutely unacceptable.
Hedda Greger-Pettersen, head of the Strauman FAU, expresses her outrage about the situation.
She firmly believes that closing a five-year-old school is a detrimental decision.
– It feels as if municipal leaders are playing Yatzy; they throw proposals into the air to see where they land,
she criticized, referencing the myriad of suggestions circulating to salvage the municipal budget.
Unsurprisingly, the FAU leader wishes for the Strauman Center for Childhood Education to be preserved in its current form.
Photo: Private
The FAU leader highlights that many families expected the area to remain attractive for years, largely influenced by the municipality’s previous reassurances.
– We feel betrayed; the municipality is breaking a social contract by closing down the center. This will put us in a financial predicament, potentially driving down property values and making it hard to sell our homes,
she warned and added:
– At this rate, we may have to consider relocating.
Spent over 50 million at the cod museum
– Yet you’re living in a municipality that’s on the brink of bankruptcy. What is the solution? asks the NRK FAU leader.
– To a large degree, this is a national issue extending beyond Vågan municipality. A portion of the resolution calls for increased funding for municipalities,
replied Greger-Pettersen.
She added that local budget priorities could have been handled differently.
– Over NOK 50 million has been allocated for the construction of the Skrei museum, which makes little sense if it comes at the expense of vital growth and health services.
Vågan municipality has set aside NOK 56 million specifically for a museum dedicated to the skrei.
Photo: LPO architects
In September, the government announced an allocation of approximately NOK 50 million for the SKREI project in Kabelvåg, showcasing the significance of dry fish and the storied history of Lofoten fishing.
Vågan municipality has previously committed NOK 56 million, with only a matching amount left to secure from Nordland County Council to fully fund the endeavor.
– A timely question
– The critique from the FAU leader is certainly timely,
Mayor Benjaminsen acknowledged.
– However, it’s important to note that the funding for the Skrei project was confirmed prior to the financial crisis becoming acute.
He emphasized the importance of the museum as a catalyst for revitalization in Kabelvåg, a community that has suffered from job losses and neglect and is in need of a significant boost.
– This museum is crucial for the development of Kabelvåg.
The Strauman childcare center, built in 2019, faces a proposed closure set for August 1 of next year.
Photo: Trude Furuly / NRK
Furthermore, when comparing the school closures to the museum’s project, one must consider the annual costs incurred by the municipality.
For the museum, the annual expenditure is approximately NOK 1.7 million for Vågan municipality, while implementing school closures, as suggested by the municipal director, could result in an annual saving of around NOK 8 million.
– However, I fully recognize that these discussions are bound to arise,
stated Benjaminsen.
Money, not students, is the problem
Strauman School is expected to fill most positions in the upcoming years, despite the financial strife.
The mayor emphasizes that the true issue lies not with the number of students.
– The core problem is financial. Over the last three years, operational costs have surged tremendously, while revenue has stagnated. Despite the student population remaining stable over the past three years, we have faced worsening financial circumstances,
he elaborated.
– Will this inevitably lead to the school’s closure?
– While I shouldn’t make definitive claims, Vågan municipality has never had a political coalition advocating for lasting changes to our school structure. Whether this is still the case remains highly uncertain.
Published 13.11.2024, at 23.07
E evident, and we had already committed to it. The museum is seen as a vital part of our cultural heritage and economic revitalization strategy for Kabelvåg. But yes, we have to balance that with the pressing needs of our schools and community services.
Thus, the dilemma is clear: how to prioritize a community’s development in such a tight fiscal environment? On one hand, there’s the allure of preserving history and attracting tourism through projects like the SKREI museum; on the other, the immediate and vital need to educate and care for the younger generation. It would seem that the local government is caught between a rock and a hard place, trying to appease all constituents while facing grim financial realities.
– Solutions on the Horizon?
As discussions continue, some residents have suggested alternative solutions. Community groups are rallying for a more transparent budgeting process, arguing that local citizens deserve a say in how their tax dollars are spent.
Additionally, ideas such as public-private partnerships to fund education and community projects are gaining traction. Perhaps if the local government showcased the educational benefits of the SKREI project—linking it more closely with local schools and curriculum—there might be a way to bridge the gap between cultural investment and educational needs.
Ultimately, it’s clear the residents of Vågan cherish their community, with its scenic beauty and rich traditions. As they navigate these challenging waters, their collective voice will be crucial in shaping the future, ensuring that both the next generation’s education and local heritage continue to thrive.
So, will the local leaders finally roll the dice right in this game of municipal Yatzy? Only time will reveal whether sensible solutions come to the forefront, prioritizing the best interests of all constituents.