Savings in the double budget: Berlin schools are losing their flexible funds – Berlin
The savings in the double budget 2022/23 have first concrete consequences for all public schools in Berlin. They learned in a circular on Wednesday that their annual disposal fund will “probably” be reduced to 3,000 euros.
So far, depending on the number of students, it has been around 15,000 to 30,000 euros, maybe even more. Thus, depending on the previous payments, the schools lose 12,000 to 27,000 euros. The education administration did not give exact figures.
For the vocational schools, Ronald Rahmig spoke of a “massive cut in the design options of an independent school”.
The chairman of the School Management Association for Vocational Training in Berlin (BBB) gave an example of the previous use: “Especially with the funds from the disposal fund, school-specific support measures could be carried out in the past.” Now, however, the strengthening of vocational training is “not possible in this way”. Rahmig appealed to MPs “not to allow this cut”
However, the loss of around eight million euros should not be everything. In the meantime, a figure of 150 million euros has been circulating, but it is said to be off the table. Finance Senator Daniel Wesener (Greens) denied that there would be major cuts when the Senate passed the budget on Tuesday. As an example, he named the school construction offensive, in which there should be no cuts. Nevertheless, school administrations expect further cuts. The draft budget will be discussed in the House of Representatives in the coming days and weeks.
The disposal fund was granted to the schools in the time of full coffers since 2015 and increased in 2017 by the then education senator Sandra Scheeres (SPD). According to reports, it has not always been exhausted by the schools. A lot of money was said to be left over in 2021.
Because of the spending ban, there is already space
“We always spent the money,” said Sven Zimmerschied on Wednesday after the cut became known. He directs the Charlottenburg Friedensburg School and the Association of Secondary School Principals. The fact that many schools could not have spent everything last year “was mainly due to the spending freeze imposed during the October holidays,” suspects Zimmerschied.
He also explained what the cut means for his school: “Our school is now missing more than 20,000 euros in funds that could be used relatively flexibly”. This is exactly what the contingency fund was created for. As examples, he mentioned that speakers were paid for study days, minor renovations were paid for directly or some pieces of furniture could be bought separately.
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“Now that’s not possible again,” regrets the Charlottenburg school principal. In the past, for example, the step system in the schoolyard and also the water connection for the school gardening were purchased thanks to the available funds. A school pond was planned. That’s “done for now”.
“We will have to save on IT support, maintenance, study days and further training,” announced Gunilla Neukirchen from the Lankwitzer Beethoven-Gymnasium. This leads to “significant restrictions in the pedagogical work of the schools at a time when the consequences of the pandemic have to be dealt with”. Neukirchen heads the association of school management in the Education and Science Union.
Free schools receive no money from the state contingency fund. However, their financing is to be placed on a new basis in the course of this legislature.