Education Committee

The committee proposes updating the school transport principles from August 2025 onwards, which primarily concerns changes to new student admission areas and transport rights for secondary school specialization classes. According to the proposal, the municipality would assign a school place to all 7th grade students and free school transport would be granted when the municipality has assigned a school place and transport criteria are met. For students applying to specialization classes, school transport would be granted from across the entire municipality area when criteria are met, but students in grades 1-2 participating in morning and afternoon activities would not generally be granted free transport. During the proceedings, a change is also proposed whereby families could choose only morning or afternoon activities and receive regular transport in one direction.

The meeting proposes to approve the agenda and the order of business in accordance with the administrative regulations. The committee may, if necessary, decide to take up other matters for consideration or change the order. This is a standard procedural item at the beginning of each meeting.

The Education Director presents several current matters to the board for information. The agenda includes development plans for youth work in the central area for spring 2026, a status report on meeting place activities, and a technical VAT change to the pricing of school and daycare facilities starting from January. Additionally, preliminary information is presented regarding an increase in the service voucher value from August 2026, which will be officially brought for decision in the April meeting. The board also receives an overview of the financial implementation of their operations through the end of February and the early childhood education placement situation in March.

The Education and Training Board is presented with annual report material related to the 2025 financial statements for information. The board reports on how well the goals of education and training were achieved last year as well as other significant events in their area. The materials will be compiled as part of the municipality's overall financial statements, which the municipal board will process at the end of March and the council at the latest in June. The board is also proposed to be authorized to make necessary technical corrections to the information with financial services.

The Education and Training Board is proposed to decide on the compensation levels for municipal family daycare costs for the year 2026. According to the proposal, family daycare providers would be compensated for children's meal costs in accordance with the Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities' recommendation: for children under school age, breakfast or snack 0.93 euros and lunch 2.21 euros per meal, for school children correspondingly 1.21 and 2.87 euros. Additionally, a daily compensation of 2.13 euros would be paid for other costs arising from care. The purpose of the compensations is to cover the actual costs incurred by family daycare providers from childcare and they would be in effect throughout the year 2026.

The committee will consider a proposal to increase early childhood education client fees from the beginning of August 2026 in accordance with the state-mandated index adjustment. According to the proposal, the maximum fee for the first child would rise to 335 euros per month (currently 310 euros) and the minimum chargeable fee to 32 euros per month. Income thresholds are proposed to be raised, for example, the income threshold for a two-person family would rise to 4,369 euros per month. The change would reduce the municipality's client fee revenue by an estimated approximately 230,000 euros annually, as the raised income thresholds would mean lower fees for many families.

The municipal board has sent the council motion on halving the consumption of animal products by 2030 to the education and teaching board for preparation. Food services have already developed vegetarian dining in schools and daycare centers by increasing the supply of vegetarian food and implementing food education. Monitoring shows that the consumption of vegetarian food has so far been limited, which is why changes are being made gradually while listening to children. The board is now considering how the goals proposed in the council motion could be addressed in practice.

The Education and Learning Board is presented with official decisions from the period 12.2.–11.3.2026 to be noted for information. Official decisions are decisions that education sector civil servants have made within their authority and on their own responsibility. The board is proposed to note these decisions for information and not to take them up for separate consideration, which is the standard procedure regarding official decisions.

The committee is considering an increase in fees for morning and afternoon activities for preschool children starting from August 2026. The monthly fee for under 60 hours is proposed to be raised from 80 euros to 85 euros and the fee for over 60 hours from 160 euros to 170 euros, while breakfast will continue to be charged at 28 euros per month. The fee increases have been proportioned to early childhood education fees and families will continue to have the opportunity to apply for sibling discounts and income-based fee reductions. The decision would apply to all preschool children who participate in morning and afternoon activities organized by the municipality.

The committee is proposed to provide a response to the council motion on reducing ultra-processed food in daycare centers and schools. The council motion was made by the Lempäälä Finns Party council group, signed by 28 councilors or deputy councilors. The agenda includes a comprehensive report on what ultra-processed food means and how it is classified - ultra-processed foods are industrial foods and beverages that typically contain few essential nutrients but are high in salt, sugar, and fat. The committee must address the matter and provide a response to the motion.