Disregarded the Determined Outcome
In September 2024, a council resolution aimed at improving the cleanliness of school toilets at Osterfeld Comprehensive School was passed with majority party support. However, as we approach the present day, the resolution remains unimplemented, leaving many questioning the cause of the delay.
Several potential factors could be contributing to the delay. Budget constraints, administrative and bureaucratic delays, contractual and procurement issues, technical or logistical challenges, shifting political priorities, and communication gaps are all possibilities.
Budget cycles, competing priorities, or unexpected financial pressures could have delayed the disbursement of necessary resources for the improvements. Council resolutions often require detailed planning, tendering processes, or coordination between multiple departments, which can take considerable time. If implementing the resolution requires hiring contractors or vendors, the process of issuing tenders, evaluating bids, and finalizing contracts can slow down the start of actual work.
Assessing the current state of the facilities, designing improvements, ensuring compliance with health and safety standards—all these practical considerations may have revealed complexities needing more time for resolution. Even with majority support, there may be shifting political priorities or changes in leadership focus since the resolution passed, causing other urgent matters to take precedence.
Sometimes, the resolution’s supporters believe it is being implemented, but poor communication or transparency leads to a perception of inaction among stakeholders, including school staff, parents, or students.
What can be done to address this issue? Requesting a progress report from the relevant council committee or department to clarify current status and next steps is a good first step. Engaging with local representatives to express community concerns and urge expedited action is also important. Following up on budget and procurement timelines ensures the project remains prioritized, and raising awareness within the school community maintains pressure for timely improvements.
Denise Horn, spokesperson for school and social policy of the SPD fraction, has expressed concern about the issue and has called for a reminder to the city council about the importance of clean school toilets. She emphasizes, "Toilets make school."
Eight months after the resolution, no progress has been made in addressing the issue of unclean school toilets. The administration has been tasked with developing a concept for clean school toilets based on best practice examples, and regular discussions are taking place between school principals, SBO, and entrepreneurs regarding the issue. However, the evaluation of the concept is yet to take place after one year.
A wishlist presented by the youth parliament to the city council about a year ago is under discussion, and the administration has not disclosed any plans for the development of a concept for clean school toilets based on best practice examples.
It is crucial for the community to stay engaged and informed about the progress of this resolution to ensure that clean school toilets become a reality at Osterfeld Comprehensive School.
- The delay in implementing the council resolution could be due to a variety of factors, such as budget constraints, administrative delays, contractual issues, technical challenges, shifting political priorities, or communication gaps.
- The implementation of the resolution for clean school toilets at Osterfeld Comprehensive School might have been slowed down by bureaucratic procedures, competing priorities, or delays in issuing tenders, evaluating bids, and finalizing contracts with vendors.
- Poor communication or a lack of transparency could also lead to a perception of inaction among stakeholders, including school staff, parents, or students, regarding the progress of the clean school toilets policy.
