Starting in May, two schools in Jūrmala are being reorganized: kindergartens are being merged with them. For parents, this means that children will continue to study in familiar buildings, but the management of the institutions will become unified.
The Jūrmala City Council has decided to merge the Kemeri Primary School with the preschool institution "Austras koks." They are located nearby, so after the reorganization, they effectively become one educational center. Currently, there are 189 children studying there: 120 school students and 69 kindergarten pupils.
The local government notes that the merger will allow for more efficient use of resources—from facilities to budget. This includes the joint use of infrastructure, such as the library and common spaces, as well as unified administrative management.
Since May 1, the merged Kemeri School has been headed by Juna Ivanova, who previously led "Austras koks." She has nine years of experience in education, including work as a language teacher and participation in educational projects.
"My vision is a school that is constantly evolving, a place where knowledge, values, and personal development create a solid foundation for the future. I believe that a modern school is not only a place for acquiring knowledge but also an environment where personality is formed, values are strengthened, and the ability to think, collaborate, and make responsible decisions is developed," Ivanova says.
She also emphasizes the importance of collaboration: "Collaboration is very important, as only together with teachers, parents, and the community can we create a safe, supportive, and inspiring environment."
Similar changes are affecting the Jūrmala Mežmal Primary School, which is merging with the kindergarten "Bitīte." In this case, the merger logically continues an already existing practice: both institutions are located in the same building and implement the same preschool education programs.
After the merger, the Mežmal School will have 349 students: 253 schoolchildren and 96 children in preschool groups, including 40 pupils from "Bitīte." The leader remains Andžela Zubkovska—a teacher with 30 years of experience, who has headed the school since 2015.
According to her, the staff is already adapting to the changes: the school "is successfully coping with changes and challenges thanks to a professional team and positive collaboration with the local government and parents."
The council emphasizes that the reorganization will not affect the accessibility of education: children will continue to study in the same facilities, without relocations.
Such mergers are part of a broader trend of optimizing the school network, where institutions are consolidated for more effective management and resource use.
In the daily lives of families, there will be no changes, but the education management system in the city will become simpler and more centralized.
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