"We will hand over the list of names to the politicians on Thursday when there is a committee meeting in the primary and elementary school committee," says Lisa Nilsson.
On Thursday, April 11, guardians of children at Kobben received information from the principal about plans to put the preschool on hold in the fall. Decreased child numbers and staffing problems were cited as reasons. The children will be moved to Lövånger preschool instead.
The meeting lasted for three hours. Later, the parents also met with department head Kerstin Steinvall.
–The department head explained that they ran a deficit last year. But we have not received any concrete figures on how they have calculated the savings of closing Kobben, says Nilsson.
The parents have come up with several other suggestions on how to save money.
– But we have not received any feedback on that. The feeling is that they are not interested.
Alarmed by the proposal, Nilsson and other parents have launched a campaign to save the preschool. According to the parents, they were only given a few days' notice before the decision to put Kobben on hold was to be made, but they successfully petitioned for a postponement.
In the meantime, they have started a petition and contacted politicians. Additionally, around 30 parents have drafted a letter outlining their concerns about the closure of Kobben.
The parents' primary concern is the potential loss of the preschool itself, along with the deterioration of facilities and environment for the children. Kobben boasts a close proximity to the forest, minimal traffic, and has recently renovated, adapted spaces. In contrast, Lövånger preschool, the proposed relocation site, is a former nursing home ill-suited for its intended purpose. Here, children would face numerous small rooms, cold concrete walls, and unforgiving concrete floors.
Nina Kolar is one of the parents who has become involved in the preschool. My Kolar is walking on the balance beam in the forest play area.
The parents also express concern about the potential disruption caused by splitting up both the children and teacher groups, which could lead to fewer teachers overseeing larger class sizes. Currently, Kobben has 17 children enrolled, but even with some departures expected in the autumn, siblings on the waiting list suggest the overall number of students may remain relatively stable.
Isak West and Mila Bäckman at Kobben's preschool enjoy the play area in the forest just above the school.
The parents point out Skellefteå's rapid growth, forcing people further out to find childcare options. While the city offers choices, rural areas like Lövånger lack such variety.
– Many families choose Lövånger specifically because of Kobben's presence, Nilsson says.
– In the long run, closing the preschool could discourage families from moving here and may even lead some current residents to relocate.
Nilsson further argues that Lövånger, a socioeconomically disadvantaged area, deserves a larger allocation from the 2024 state preschool quality improvement subsidy.
lfred Löfroth enjoys climbing in the climbing tree in the forest next to Kobben. The parents think it's unfortunate that the preschool children at Lövånger's preschool don't have the same access to the forest.
Nilsson says:
– We have about 415 signatures now. There is a great deal of commitment in Lövånger to this.
Minutes from a recent meeting reveal a local needs analysis conducted for the years 2025 to 2034. The analysis shows that there are currently 120 preschool places in Lövånger, of which 20 are located at Kobben.
In the years 2025 to 2028, there is an overcapacity of 13-33 children in the town. However, the analysis estimates that 118 places will be needed in 2030. Interestingly, the analysis suggests no immediate changes for Lövånger but recommends that the situation be monitored.
Lövångers förskola, where the children will move to in the autumn if the decision to close Kobben is implemented.
Kerstin Steinvall, head of the municipal preschool department, clarifies that the proposal is not a permanent closure.
– We propose putting Kobben preschool on temporary hold, she explains.
– The building will remain within the municipality's property holdings, along with furniture. If needed in the future, the premises can be reopened immediately.
Steinvall acknowledges the potential impact of this decision:
– I understand this may be perceived as having significant consequences. However, Skellefteå is entering a new era. While some areas experience declining child enrollment, others see an increase. We must ensure adequate staffing resources to maintain consistent quality education across the municipality.
– The decision to put Kobben on hold is not a political one, Steinvall concludes.
According to Kerstin Steinvall, the idea behind coordination is to provide all children with the conditions and equal access to high-quality preschool education. When the number of children decreases in the area, the budget also decreases, which affects staffing and organization.
While Norran could not obtain a specific figure for the cost savings associated with this change, Steinvall emphasized that the goal is to consolidate resources in the area to ensure equal opportunities for all children. Single-unit preschools require more resources per child than multi-unit preschools. Kobben staff will be offered positions at Lövånger preschool.
In response to parents' suggestions for cost-saving measures, Steinvall stated:
– We are taking these suggestions into account. We have noted them, and principal Christina Lundberg is reviewing what can be done.