No agreement

End of Schwarzstraße elementary school sealed

Bad news for pupils, teachers and parents at Schwarzstraße elementary school. The school will no longer be run from the summer. The city, state and archdiocese tried to reach an agreement with the owners, Admont Abbey. Without success.

On Thursday evening, Mayor Bernhard Auinger (SPÖ) and Provincial Councillor Daniela Gutschi (ÖVP) informed those affected of the end in writing. "We tried everything to find a solution," says Gutschi, expressing her disappointment. It is therefore clear that there will be no more lessons for primary school pupils in Schwarzstraße from the summer.

"We are incredibly sad and are now in a deep hole," Headmaster Christoph Sewald told the "Krone" newspaper, adding: "We fought bitterly for the school for six years. It was an intense time for the staff and parents. That's why the clear cut now hurts so much."

The city and state now want to support pupils, parents and teachers as best they can. According to Gutschi, attempts are being made to maintain the class groups and place them in other schools - preferably together with the class teachers.

The school, which is run by the Franciscan order from Vöcklabruck, has been threatened with closure for years. The sisters withdrew, and residential space is to be built on the school site next year instead of classrooms - the "Krone" reported.