Solothurn
The first municipal council meeting with Mayor Stefanie Ingold: Now a new era begins
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The new mayor Stefanie Ingold (SP) chaired the council meeting for the first time. At first it was about topics that were very familiar to her.
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Mayor Stefanie Ingold at her first council meeting.
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The picture is unusual. An image that has never been seen before and that is unlikely to change for the next four years: the community council meeting will be presided over by a woman for the first time. “Now we see each other from a different side,” said Mayor Stefanie Ingold (SP) yesterday evening as a greeting:
“We all want the best for our city, but we will not always agree on what is best.”
She would like to be treated with respect and fair discussions. Not only the top of the municipal council has changed: Franziska von Ballmoos (FDP) has moved up for Kurt Fluri.
The first meeting of the city president begins for her on familiar ground: the school planning for 2022/2023. In addition to the already difficult planning, the various renovations of the school buildings are additional factors this year. Some classes have to change their school house, and a secondary class I may have to be opened, explained the school director Irène Schori.
About school planning …
“Care should be taken that there are not too many small classes with 15 and 16 students,” warned councilor and teacher Barbara Feldges (FDP). If possible, these should be merged, which would also have a positive effect on the city’s finances. Angela Petiti (SP) said she was afraid that this demand would come. It has been proven that large classes have a negative impact on students. They hope that the merging will not catch on. The votes were not followed by any motions: the municipal council unanimously took note of the planning of the school space and approved a possible opening of a secondary class.
… and day care centers
The next item on the agenda – the introduction of subject funding for child day care – was also welcomed by the local council. The implementation took a long time, said Claudio Hug (GLP), but the result was good. “This means that parents have the choice of sending their children where they want,” explained Hug. The new system will cost the city around CHF 200,000 more per year. “These additional costs are justifiable because more parents benefit from subsidies,” said Hug. The municipal council unanimously approved the new regulations, the final word is given by the municipal assembly in December.
The former headmistress Ingold soon had to say goodbye to familiar topics and prove herself in the discussion about controversial agenda items: the redesign of Schöngrünstrasse and the 2022 budget.
