Parents seek new operator to keep Kritzendorf private school open

Parents and local officials are searching for a new operator for a private primary school in Kritzendorf, after its current provider said it would stop running the school after this academic year. ORF reports that 143 children attend the school in Klosterneuburg-Kritzendorf, in the Tulln district.

The Association of Religious Schools of Austria says falling enrolment has made the location too expensive to operate. The decision will not be reversed, its chairwoman, Maria Habersack, told ORF. The association says it wants all pupils to be able to complete primary school in Kritzendorf.

Parents were shocked to learn of the planned closure three weeks after the school year began, said Nina Holzinger, chairwoman of the school’s parents’ association. The group has launched the “PVS Kritzendorf bleibt” initiative, which has attracted more than 1,100 supporters.

Talks are under way with several potential school operators, including the Stella schools. They have visited the school but say they must first assess the details before deciding whether to take it over.

The current operator has also suggested that the municipality could step in. Mayor Christoph Kaufmann said he would prefer a private provider, as taking over would bring substantial costs the municipality had not budgeted for. However, he said it would be available as a partner if no other solution emerged.

Kaufmann wants all parties to meet in the coming weeks and reach a decision by the end of the year, ahead of school enrolment in January. Rumours that the school could be converted into apartments have been denied by both the association and the mayor, who said rezoning was not an option.