This decision lays the groundwork for permanently establishing the Hafenschule as a three-track school and for fully ensuring, both pedagogically and in terms of facilities, the legal right to full-day care that will take effect starting in the 2026–27 school year. The total construction costs for the project amount to approximately 42.5 million euros.

“Today’s decision by the city council is a decisive milestone for the school system in Schierstein. With the renovation and targeted expansion of the Hafenschule, we are creating a modern, fully accessible teaching and learning environment for our elementary school students. By permanently operating three classes per grade and providing modern facilities, we are not only ensuring the legal right to full-day care but also enabling a forward-looking educational approach that could no longer be accommodated in the old building. “I am particularly proud of the forward-looking integration of modern educational infrastructure with environmental sustainability and local flood protection. The new Hafenschule will thus make a valuable contribution to the entire community of Schierstein,” said Dr. Patricia Becher, head of the school department, expressing her delight at the decision.

Due to the structural defects of the buildings, which were constructed in the 1950s, and their limited layout, simply preserving the old classroom and administrative wings made no economic or educational sense. Instead, a modern, functional new building is now being constructed, offering more flexible floor plans to accommodate contemporary educational concepts. The historic school building from 1884 will be renovated and converted into a modern administrative building. The school’s former gym will be used as a cafeteria in the future and renovated accordingly. Physical education classes will take place in the nearby new gym at the Erich Kästner School.

The project also sets new standards in terms of environmental sustainability: in addition to complying with sustainable construction standards, a photovoltaic system will be installed on the roof of the extension, which—as a climate-related subproject of the city’s climate plan—will contribute to reducing CO2 emissions. Another technical feature concerns flood protection along the adjacent Lindenbach stream: the new building will include an underground parking level. This will normally serve as a parking area but can be deliberately flooded in the event of extreme flooding to effectively relieve pressure on the Lindenbach stream as well as the adjacent properties and school buildings.

In addition to the construction costs, approximately 900,000 euros have been budgeted for equipping the new building and making additions to the existing structure.

To ensure that school operations can continue uninterrupted during the approximately 28-month construction period, a spacious temporary container facility will be erected on Saarbrücker Allee. This is scheduled to be completed by May 2027. The school will move during the summer break of 2027, so that the 2027–28 school year can begin on time and without restrictions in the temporary facility. Construction on the actual school grounds, beginning with demolition work, is scheduled to start in November 2027.