Back to school 2026: The Alpes-Maritimes department prepares middle schools to face climate challenges

More than 45,000 middle school students will return to the classrooms of Alpes-Maritimes schools in September 2026. During the summer, the Alpes-Maritimes department is multiplying work projects to modernize colleges, improve comfort during heat waves and strengthen site security.

While school holidays continue, teams from the Alpes-Maritimes department are actively preparing for the 2026-2027 school year in the 72 public middle schools in the territory. The work undertaken responds to several priorities: adapting schools to climate change, modernizing facilities and improving reception conditions for more than 45,000 middle school students.

This program is part of the College Plan – Horizon 2028 and the departmental GREEN Deal. Operations involve both energy renovation and greening of playgrounds, securing access, renovating sanitary facilities and modernizing sports equipment.

Facing increasingly frequent heat episodes, the department continues adapting the school property. Fifteen middle schools are benefiting this summer from greening work to create new shaded areas. Fifty-six schools have now benefited from these improvements. Nine middle schools are equipped with air circulators and ten schools now have cooled refuge rooms designed to accommodate students during periods of extreme heat.

Several energy renovation operations accompany these improvements. Joinery is being replaced at the Cité Mixte du Parc Impérial in Nice and at Albert Camus middle school in Mandelieu-la-Napoule. External thermal insulation work is also being carried out at Auguste Blanqui middle school in Puget-Théniers and Jean-Baptiste Rusca school in Tende.

All of these investments aim to reduce energy consumption while improving thermal comfort in schools. In 2026, 19.1 million euros are allocated to new construction and rehabilitation of middle schools, an increase of more than 5 million euros compared to 2025. Credits dedicated to maintenance, repairs and upkeep are also increasing.

Modernization, security and recruitment for September 2026

The modernization of the network of middle schools continues with several major operations. Renovations of Albert Camus middle school in Mandelieu-la-Napoule and Jean-Henri Fabre school in Nice continue. The boarding house at Jean Salines middle school in Roquebillière is being restructured while the new gymnasium at Yves Klein middle school in La Colle-sur-Loup is nearing completion.

Educational spaces are also evolving to meet new digital uses and teaching practices. This strategy prepares future construction and reconstruction projects, particularly in Levens, Gattières, Mougins, in the Paillons valley, in Nice and in Grasse.

The daily lives of middle school students are also subject to concrete improvements. New access control devices are being installed in five middle schools. Ten schools are having their sanitary facilities renovated. Four middle schools are benefiting from the rehabilitation of laundry facilities and nine gymnasiums are being modernized, in whole or in part. School catering is also continuing its modernization through the renewal of kitchen equipment and the strengthening of teams when needed.

Charles Ange Ginésy, president of the Alpes-Maritimes department, highlights the objectives of this investment policy: “Through this ambitious program, the department confirms that youth and middle schools are at the heart of our action. Investing in schools is not just about maintaining buildings: it is about preparing the future of our children, guaranteeing equal opportunities, adapting our facilities to climate change and offering every middle school student a modern, safe and comfortable learning environment. In a constrained national context, we choose consistency, investment and concrete action in service of Alpes-Maritimes families.”

Alongside the work, the department is strengthening the staffing responsible for operating the schools. A recruitment campaign made it possible to fill 74 of the 78 open positions, or 95% of identified needs before school starts. Recruitments concern in particular cooks, maintenance staff, maintenance workers and gymnasium supervisors. The remaining needs will be covered by temporary staff to ensure continuity of public services from September onwards.