After water damage – school starts with obstacles in Nuremberg

Mara Müller had been looking forward to her first day of school for months. The six-year-old is actually supposed to attend the Dr. Theo Schöller School in the Nuremberg district of St. Johannis for the next few years, but today she had to make do with photos in front of the entrance portal. The first-grader cannot go into the school for the time being, as it will probably remain closed for a whole year. The repairs needed are too great after the water damage during the summer holidays. “It was quite a surprise, but she coped well!” says Mara’s mother, Marlene Müller.

Listed school flooded

At the beginning of August, the angle valve of a water pipe burst in the school. The first floor, ground floor and basement quickly flooded. The floor of the listed school now has to be removed, as does most of the ceiling. Drying machines from a specialist company have been in use for weeks. Estimated total damage: 450,000 euros. The evacuation of around 1,000 middle and primary school students seems unavoidable. “They’ve had noise and tradesmen in the building for months now, so no lessons are possible!” says Michael Kaiser from the Nuremberg City Schools Department.

Logistical challenge

An extreme challenge, especially – the city, the school authority and the school department are working together to find a spatial solution during the summer holidays. Today, on the first day of school, this had to prove itself. Children from the elementary school will now be taught at two alternative schools in the north of Nuremberg. 24 middle school classes will be relocated to Herschelplatz. Parents were informed by letter last week. Despite this, some students were unsettled and overwhelmed by the situation in the morning.

Shuttle bus and free tickets

The school officials were already on site in the early hours of the morning, informing and delegating together with a security team specially provided for this purpose. Several special buses are now accompanying primary school students to the alternative locations. The Dr. Theo Schöller School will remain the meeting point and starting point in the future. On the first day of school, the first-graders were taken to the primary schools by shuttle bus together with their parents and school bags. Children and young people in middle school, including fifth grade and above, receive a 365 euro ticket from the city and must organize their own way to school.

After-school and lunch care outsourced

The temporary closure also affects the after-school and lunchtime care at the Dr. Theo Schöller School. These have also been relocated to alternative locations. This should work without any major problems, said Nuremberg’s school representative Cornelia Trinkl (CSU). All places were retained as the parents had booked them for their children. The first day, Trinkl said, went quite well despite all the challenges. Of course, a lot still needs to settle down. The Dr. Theo Schöller School is expected to remain closed for the entire school year.