Primary School Campus in Bad Iburg: Balancing Integration, Safety, and Costs

The Primary School Campus in Bad Iburg: Balancing Integration, Safety, and Costs

The city of Bad Iburg has been intensively examining the future of its primary school in recent weeks. The goal is to create an independent primary school campus that meets the needs of kindergarten, full-day school offerings, and primary education. At the same time, the administration, the Education and Social Committee, and the district of Osnabrück must find a balance between costs, safety, and pedagogical requirements.

Planning and Structure of the Primary School Campus

The existing primary schools in Bad Iburg are to be consolidated in a single building. The master planner will present his concept at the 25th meeting of the Education and Social Committee on 28 April 2026. The final report on the integrated usage concept and functional plan will also be presented at this meeting.

The planning envisions a design that allows for future structural expansion. Currently, the Glane primary school uses approximately 12% of the total area of the school center. The district has offered additional spaces in the upper floors, which could increase the usage share to about 15%. However, the council has noted that this extension does not represent a sustainable solution.

The administration criticizes the mixed use of spaces and the proximity to secondary school classrooms as unsuitable for primary school children. Safety-related aspects such as shared corridors and toilet facilities with secondary school students are considered problematic.

Costs, Billing, and Ownership

Another focus is the reorganization of operating cost settlements. The city uses 12% of the total area of the school center, 8% of which is located in the ground floor. Discussions between the city and the district of Osnabrück on adjusting billing arrangements are ongoing. The goal is to reach a new agreement that particularly regulates operating cost settlements and the use of the gymnasium.

The city demands a complete and comprehensible breakdown of operating costs. At the same time, it holds ownership shares in the school center property. It is being considered to charge rent for the city's area share, possibly based on a usage fee of 0.0223 € per hour and per square meter.

If an agreement cannot be reached, the matter will be passed on to an external lawyer. The city wants to avoid legal disputes.

Extension of Childcare Hours in Kindergartens

In addition to school planning, the extension of childcare hours in childcare facilities also took center stage in Bad Iburg. Due to increased demand, the extended hours at the Kita St. Franziskus will be expanded as of 1 August 2026. The decision to extend the hours was passed by the city council on 16 April 2026.

Funding for this measure is available from Product 36511. The extension of childcare hours particularly concerns the provision of more full-day places. The legal entitlement to full-day childcare in the primary sector from the school year 2026/27 is already being incorporated into the planning.

Outlook and Next Steps

The primary school campus is a project of great symbolic and practical significance for Bad Iburg. The city aims to create a self-sufficient primary school that is usable for Bad Iburg, Glane, and Ostenfelde. At the same time, it is being examined whether synergies with the new bus stop construction can be used to save costs and achieve a coordinated urban development solution.

Another joint workshop with the master planner is planned for the summer of 2026. The results of previous workshops will also be included, in which teachers, parents, politicians, and the administration participated.

The city of Bad Iburg has already reacted to the increasing demand with the extension of childcare hours in kindergartens. At the same time, it remains cautious in using existing spaces in the school center to develop long-term, sustainable solutions.