March 2026: Solingen Remains Active in Education, Culture, and Climate Protection

Impulses for the Future and Sustainability

What was important this month

• Youth City Council digitizes the election process: The election for the 14th Youth City Council will be conducted digitally for the first time – a pilot project with broad participation opportunities.
• New assignments for deputy mayors: Starting May 2026, Anna Lenker-Koukounarakis will be responsible for Department 4 (Youth, Education, Integration, Culture, and Sport).
• New secondary school construction on Beethovenstraße: The Finance Committee approved general planning services for the construction of a new secondary school.
• Climate protection in kindergartens continues: The incentive model for municipal kindergartens will continue until 2028 – with significant energy savings and climate protection goals.
• New structures in personnel deployment management: Structural adjustments in the personnel department ensure flexibility and improved qualifications.
• Emergency power supply for disaster protection: A lighthouse concept and 12 million euros from federal funds secure stability during crisis times.

Strengthening youth participation: Digitalization of the Youth City Council election

The city of Solingen has set a milestone in youth participation: The election for the 14th Youth City Council will be carried out digitally for the first time in 2026. With this measure, Solingen follows the trend of actively involving young citizens in political decision-making processes.

The digital access credentials will be delivered by post, and technical support will be offered in schools, libraries, and the Youth City Council office. The election is scheduled for May 7, 2026, and will allow the election of 25 members and 5 reserve members.

The procedure is regulated by §§ 7 and 41 Abs. 1 of the North Rhine-Westphalia Municipal Code. The digital election is a pilot project that keeps the core values of democracy – free, equal, general, secret, and direct – alive in the digital world.

School construction and administrative planning: The Finance Committee lays the foundation

In March 2026, the Finance Committee made important decisions for school construction and administrative planning. A central decision was the approval of general planning services for the conversion of the office building at Beethovenstraße 239–245 into a secondary school.

The measure is part of the long-term school development plan and aims at better utilization and quality assurance in the region. Although no specific budget positions were mentioned, the investment is a signal for the future-oriented orientation of the education system in Solingen.

In addition, it was decided to introduce the Staffing Planning Committee as a new body to increase transparency and political responsibility in the creation of positions. This structural adjustment is part of a comprehensive reform approach in the city's personnel management.

Climate protection in kindergartens: Successful incentive model continues

The city of Solingen is promoting sustainability in the kindergarten sector. The incentive model "Solinger Kindergartens for Climate Protection and a Fair Future" will continue in a second project phase until 2028. All 18 municipal kindergartens as well as the new Klinikum Kindergarten are participating.

Prizes are awarded based on a points system that includes up to 5,975 euros in annual funding. The activities of the kindergartens are divided into required, basic, and additional activities, with the 17 United Nations Sustainability Goals (SDGs) also being thematically integrated.

Energy consumption in kindergartens decreased significantly between 2019 and 2024: Heating energy dropped from 2,222,249 kWh to 1,700,589 kWh, and electricity from 372,919 kWh to 367,558 kWh. Greenhouse gas emissions were reduced from 731 tons of CO2 equivalents to 598 tons.

Solingen is a member of the European Cities Climate Alliance and has already received the European Energy Award. The project actively contributes to the implementation of the City Sustainability Strategy, adopted in 2018.

Overview: Structural reforms and future-oriented planning

In March 2026, Solingen demonstrated how political structures, educational policy, and climate protection can be meaningfully combined. The digitization of the Youth City Council election is a bold step to involve young people more strongly. At the same time, the city is setting impulses in climate protection policy with the kindergarten incentive model, which can serve as a model beyond the municipality.

In addition, the realignment of personnel management and the investment in educational infrastructure show that Solingen is focused on long-term and sustainable development. These measures not only contribute to the stability of the administration but also to the attractiveness of the city as a place to work and live.

Final conclusion with a look ahead

March 2026 was marked in Solingen by structural adjustments, educational policy, and climate protection. The city is on a course that includes the youth and pursues sustainable future visions.

In April, the focus will be on the concrete implementation of the digital Youth City Council election and the further development of the kindergarten incentive model. In addition, personnel transitions, such as the replacement of the former deputy mayor Dagmar Becker, will be in the spotlight. Solingen thus remains a place that actively shapes the future – and does so with clear decisions and citizen-oriented politics.