The start of the school year is fast approaching. This morning, Christian Estrosi visited Les Orangers and Max Gallo schools to note the conditions of the reopening.
As the start of the school year approaches, schools in Nice are getting a makeover. The Max Gallo and Les Orangers schools are among the 151 public schools benefiting from renovation work.
This summer, 86 schools were refurbished at a cost of over 2.5 million euros. From treating leaks to facade renovation, and painting hallways and staircases, the schools are being revitalized.
Covid and the school year
One of the main concerns is the start of the school year under the specter of Covid-19. Schoolchildren are, for now, not included in the vaccination campaigns. Schools are thus conducive to the circulation of the virus.
Christian Estrosi expressed his concern, believing that if there is to be a fifth wave, it will originate in the schools, as children are carriers and vectors.
To combat the spread within schools, the mayor of Nice explained that school staff and the national education system monitor the adherence to health protocols. Safety measures, hand sanitizers, and ventilation monitored by CO2 detectors placed in cafeterias will help prevent the virus’s spread.
Ensuring school safety
“Children are prime targets on all Daesh websites and social networks”
Hence, school safety is a priority, and the mayor of Nice announced the installation of emergency call terminals outside school buildings. School principals will also have an alert button.
At the start of next year, schools will be equipped with defibrillators and a security officer with the unanimous agreement of parents.
New developments for the school year
Connected video projectors and interactive whiteboards: “this year the municipality allows all its students to access digital tools and master computing.”
93 classes will progressively be equipped during the year, and by 2024, a total of 800 classes will benefit from technological equipment.
One of the new initiatives this year is the “Nice 100% Culture at School” plan. For students, this represents 12 hours of artistic and cultural education per year.
“Sport is great, but as seen in the OGC Nice-Marseille match, it sometimes has its little flaws.” noted Christian Estrosi before continuing, “culture can have a dimension that promotes sharing and beautiful integration.”
Greening schoolyards
As part of an ecological policy, the transformation of schoolyards continues. In the shade of linden trees, Christian Estrosi is pleased with the greening of these 16 schools by the end of the year.
