Parents Outraged as City Council Proposes kindergarten Closures
Parents are expressing fierce opposition to a proposal by the city council to close four kindergartens as part of a broader budget restructuring. The plan, unveiled this week, has sparked immediate backlash from families who fear limited childcare options and disruption to their children’s education.
The proposed cuts target Fjellsiden kindergarten, slated for closure in autumn 2027, along with Sæterdalen and Nattlandsfjellet kindergartens, both scheduled to close in autumn 2026. Haugatun kindergarten is also on the chopping block, with a planned closure in 2028, to be replaced with additional nursing home facilities. Currently, Fjellsiden serves 34 children.
The city council, led by finance councilor Jacob Mæhle (H), defends the proposal as a necessary step toward “tight priorities” in the upcoming municipal budget.Officials point to structural challenges with the buildings housing Fjellsiden, Sæterdalen, and Nattlandsfjellet kindergartens, arguing that improvements would be costly. They maintain that sufficient capacity exists in nearby kindergartens to absorb the displaced children. The council estimates savings of several million kroner annually through the closures, encompassing operational costs and investment funds.
However, parents vehemently disagree. “This is the only kindergarten nearby, the others are completely full. What shall we do? Do we have to go to the kindergartens in the city center?” Damasiewicz questioned,highlighting the convenience and quality of care provided at Fjellsiden. She praised the staff and the kindergarten’s proximity to nature, arguing that savings should not come at the expense of children’s well-being.
Other parents echoed these concerns. Eirin Sælen emphasized the importance of the kindergarten to the local community, stating, “We need this kindergarten. Many families with small children live here, and it can be a long distance to the next nursery school.” Hanne Karin Arnesen Sandberg,whose third child was slated to attend Fjellsiden,expressed shock at the news,recalling her own positive experiences as a former student. “The politicians talk about wanting families with children in areas close to the city centre, but then they have to make arrangements for that as well,” she added.
Parents are organizing a swift response, planning an emergency meeting and forming a working group dedicated to saving the kindergarten. Supportive messages and chocolates are already being delivered to the staff, demonstrating the community’s solidarity.
The opposition in the city council has swiftly condemned the budget proposal. Thor Haakon Bakke (MDG) labeled the cuts to schools and kindergartens as “fainthearted and irresponsible,” pointing to the council’s previous reversal on school closures earlier this year.”The citizens and the city council have said no to closing schools, and I don’t think it will be easier to make it happen for kindergartens,” Bakke stated. He argued that the budget is unrealistic and deserves thorough public consultation.
In defense of the plan, city councilor for kindergartens and schools, Daniel Hägglund (Frp), asserted that the council has actually increased investment in the sector by over NOK 325 million. He highlighted plans for new schools in Nordnes and Dokken, and emphasized that the kindergarten closures target small, outdated facilities. Hägglund also noted a long-term decline in the number of children, coupled with a growing elderly population, justifying the repurposing of the Haugatun site for nursing home beds.
Even Oleson Sørland, Chairman of the Committee for kindergarten, School and sports (Ap), expressed reservations about the proposal, arguing that the city council has not adequately assessed its impact. He called for a comprehensive nursery use plan to account for demographic forecasts and ensure continued access to district-level childcare. Sørland cautioned that the modest savings could ultimately prove costly to families if the municipality is unable to maintain adequate childcare coverage. .
The debate over the future of these kindergartens underscores a broader tension between budgetary constraints and the vital role of early childhood education in the community. As parents mobilize to fight the closures, the city council faces mounting pressure to reconsider its proposal and prioritize the needs of its youngest citizens.