Education Council

General presentations

• Budget of the Municipality of Hafnarfjörður and its enterprises 2024 and 2025-2027

  Education Committee budget for approval.

  The Education Committee agrees to refer the budget for the Department of Education and Public Health to the Town Council for consideration.

  The Education Council jointly submits the following resolution.

  The Education Committee agrees to refer the proposal to increase the parental subsidy for care with day-care providers and home-based payments by 9.91% and to approve the proposals in the new agreement between day-care providers and the City of Hafnarfjörður, which supports the work of day-care providers.

  The Education Committee agrees to make a change to the IT service in nurseries and primary schools from autumn 2024 and proposes that schools benefit from a centralised IT service.

  It is proposed that the opening hours of libraries in each school be shortened from autumn 2024.

  The Education Committee agrees to make changes to the procurement of stationery and proposes that, from next autumn, the primary school will provide all workbooks and paper, while pupils bring their own stationery. It will be ensured that stationery is available at the schools if pupils do not bring theirs with them.

  The Education Committee approves the working group's recommendations on leisure centres, where it is proposed, among other things, that the department manager have an assistant for both the leisure and youth centres to ensure an even better and more robust service, and refers the proposal for additional funding for approval.ted.

  Emphasis is placed on continuing to allocate funding for the refurbishment of play and primary school grounds, and on mapping the condition of the grounds in 2024.

  The Education Committee proposes that information be gathered on the accessibility of Icelandic language tuition for residents of Hafnarfjörður, and that ways of providing such tuition locally be explored.

  It is proposed that a working group on a youth centre in Hafnarfjörður be established, to begin work immediately to map out even better access for young people in Hafnarfjörður to the youth centre.

  The Education Committee emphasises that the new tender for school meals in play- and primary schools, taking into account the expectations of children and staff, and that different approaches will be considered with the aim of being able to offer a healthy and varied menu subscription. A working group will commence its work in November.

  The Education Committee emphasises that children in Year 5 should have access to a leisure bus, just as children in Years 1-4 do.

  The representatives of the Social Democratic Alliance submit the following motion.

  The following were the points emphasised by the Social Democratic Party's representative on the Education Committee during the budget debate within the committee.

  Fee increases and support payments
  Representatives of the Social Democratic Party place great emphasis on the fact that fee increases should not exceed the annual rate of inflation, i.e. the twelve-month change in the Consumer Price Index. It is important to keep fee increases moderate so that they are not burdensome for working people.
  It is therefore considered natural by representatives of the Social Democratic Party to increase support payments, such as the leisure allowance, based on the annual rate of inflation, i.e. the twelve-month change in the Consumer Price Index.

  School meal charges in primary and nursery schools
  On 1 November, the price of meals in nurseries will increase by 191 TP3T and in primary schools by 331 TP3T. These increases exceed the development of annual inflation, i.e. the twelve-month change in the consumer price index.
  Representatives of the Social Democratic Alliance place great emphasis on the fact that any increase in the fee for meals in primary and nursery schools should not exceed the annual rate of inflation, i.e. the twelve-month change in the Consumer Price Index.

  Primary and nursery school plots
  Representatives of the Social Democratic Party emphasise that funds should be allocated to the renovation and development of primary and nursery school grounds. A major initiative must be launched for the renovation and development of these grounds, and it is crucial that this initiative is guaranteed sufficient funding within the budget.

  Icelandic lessons for people who do not speak Icelandic or speak limited Icelandic.
  The Social Democratic Party's representatives on the education committee propose that Icelandic language teaching within the Municipality of Hafnarfjörður be mapped to identify where it is needed, and that the education committee then be tasked with organising such teaching for the municipality.

  Youth Centre in Hafnarfjörður
  Representatives of the Social Democratic Party propose that the education committee request information from the education and public health department regarding youth centres in Hafnarfjörður. Subsequently, the Education Committee will appoint a working group tasked with making proposals on how to improve the planning, environment and facilities of youth centres in Hafnarfjörður.
  Representatives of the Social Democratic Alliance emphasise that representatives from the staff and users of the youth centres should be included in the working group.

  The Viðreisn party's priorities in the education board's budget

  A representative of Viðreisn stands for responsible financial management; we do not believe we have the grounds to put forward many unrealistic proposals. It is, however, important to continue with projects that are of great importance, and it is time to examine them closely.

  A representative of Viðreisn proposes that targeted work be undertaken to review the tender for school meals in the town; the discussion about school food in the town's primary and nursery schools is varied. The contract with the company currently providing this service is at a turning point, and the price list has increased significantly in a short space of time. The debate is most heated in the primary schools. A review of the town's school meals has been called for, with both the Viðreisn representative and the youth council asking for these matters to be reconsidered with diversity in mind and for new avenues to be explored. We therefore request that a working group on school meals be established. The working group should include elected representatives from all parties, a member of staff from the department, a representative from the youth council, and hopefully also a representative of primary school staff, teachers and headteachers, and a representative from the parents' council. The working group will be tasked with looking into how meals are organised in neighbouring municipalities, and hearing the opinions of those who use the school meal subscription. To request statistical data. To obtain information on various tender specifications. To work effectively on proposals for the schools of Hafnarfjörður municipality. The proposals will then be presented to the Education Committee.

  A representative of Viðreisn proposes that leisure grants be increased in line with the index of price rises.

  A representative of Viðreisn proposes that the town's leisure transport service be extended to older age groups through a subsidy for bus passes. Currently, the leisure transport service is under the leisure department and therefore part of this council. Therefore, the Viðreisn representative proposes that the Education Committee's budget considers ways to fund a subsidy for children's and young people's annual bus passes. This is a benefit for the bus service, as it helps them to continue providing their service and encourages future generations to use public transport.

  A representative of Viðreisn proposes that the operations of the Hafnarfjörður Work Camp be reviewed with the aim of meeting modern needs. Ideas for the Hafnarfjörður work camp and the policy on this matter should be re-examined with diversity in mind. The aim is to cater for young people who are taking their first steps into the Icelandic job market. A working group should be established to review the work-school's policy. The findings of a working group from the City of Hafnarfjörður, which reported around 3-4 years ago, can be used.

  The majority of the Education Committee prioritises responsible financial management when drawing up the budget, whilst also always striving to maintain a good standard of service.