The plan is to build an elementary school with two classes for around 200 pupils and a 4-group daycare center for a total of 30 crèche children and 50 kindergarten children at the Zingel site. The construction costs for the elementary school are around 13.6 million euros and for the daycare center around 7.7 million euros. The project is being supported by the "Salzgitterhilfe" structural aid program of the state of Lower Saxony with funding totalling around 11.172 million euros. The elementary school is currently scheduled to open in the 2026/2027 school year. The daycare center can start operating in spring 2025.
On the occasion of the two ground-breaking ceremonies, Lord Mayor Frank Klingebiel said: "I am proud and pleased that we are giving the go-ahead for these two special construction projects today. Given the high demand for crèche, nursery and school places, these are urgently needed. The state is funding both projects with around 52% of the costs from structural aid, which I convinced the state of together with Stefan Klein due to the special situation of our city. Many thanks to all those involved who made this possible and who are now involved in the implementation."
Astrid Paus from the Braunschweig Office for Regional State Development was on site on behalf of the state as the funding provider and emphasized in her welcoming address: "Realizing 50 million in structural aid for Salzgitter was not easy, but we have found a good way. Salzgitter has considerable challenges - with the structural aid and funds from the integration fund, we as a state are sending out a signal that we stand by the city and promote integration in daycare centers and schools. It's great that we are giving the go-ahead for this today with the ground-breaking ceremony."
The First Mayor Stefan Klein was also present. He emphasized: "Today is a good day for the city: We need modern educational facilities in Salzgitter. The construction projects in Salzgitter-Thiede, Salzgitter-Bad and here are successful projects." Angelika Müller, the local mayor of Nordwest, which includes the district of Lichtenberg, added: "We in Nordwest think the project is important and forward-looking. I wish the construction project every success and look forward to many happy children."
