A huge whiteboard hangs on the wall, its modernity in stark contrast to the rest of the classroom. Not only is it cramped here and the PVC floor is visibly showing its age. The plaster is also peeling off the walls; at one point, water damage has left a dark stain. There is no question that there is a great need for renovation in the municipal building of the private high school Dr. Florian Überreiter in Haidhausen. “Some parents who are looking for a school for their child have their jaws dropping when they come in here,” says Ursula Berktold, managing director of the Munich School Foundation, which supports the grammar school.
The anticipation was all the greater when a new home seemed to have been found in 2018. At that time, the school agreed with the city to move to the former brewhouse of the Union Brewery on Seeriederstraße, also in Haidhausen. The U5 design academy was previously located there. But then the planned conversion of the building was delayed. And now the move of the private high school threatens to burst completely.
With reference to the increased construction costs, the city is now not only asking the Munich school foundation to make a higher contribution to the conversion, says Ursula Berktold. Rather, contrary to what was initially agreed, one should no longer be able to enjoy cheap social rent in the new building. “This means that the move is no longer financially viable for us,” emphasizes Berktold. “So we’re trapped because it’s not possible to renovate our current school building while it’s still running.”
Water damage in a classroom.
(Photo: Florian Peljak)
The fact that the building, constructed in 1955 on Pariser Straße next to the Postwiese, is in urgent need of renovation is evident not only in the twelve classrooms, but also in the staff room in the basement. A dozen individual tables stand close together under heating pipes that run openly along the ceiling. There is almost no daylight; from the windows one looks into cellar shafts. It is hard to imagine that around 50 teachers and educational staff work properly here, let alone find relaxation during their breaks.
“The situation is incredibly cramped,” says headmistress Beate Reitlinger, who has worked at the high school since 1994. In the new building on Seeriederstraße there would be more space – 2000 instead of 1400 square meters – and greater educational opportunities, for example with learning islands and play areas. “The plans for the conversion were already finished, everything was in place,” says Reitlinger about the situation in 2018. There was even a date for moving in: the school should move in the Easter holidays of 2021.
The teacher’s room is in the basement. There is almost no daylight there.
(Photo: Florian Peljak)
But then the need for renovation in the former brewhouse turned out to be greater than expected. The pandemic also delayed the start of construction. The result was a drastic increase in costs for the conversion, which was initially estimated at ten million euros. And this in turn led to changed demands from the city, reports Berktold from the Munich School Foundation. According to her, it was agreed in 2018 in a “Letter of Intent” to pay a social rent of 10.50 euros per square meter in the new building, which would then gradually have increased to 17.50 euros. “We should have increased the school fees a bit, but that would have been doable.”
But now the city no longer wants to grant social rent to the high school, which would more than double the costs, says Ursula Berktold. Since the foundation cannot afford this financially, the move is in danger of failing. The managing director emphasizes that the city would even benefit from a subsidy from the Free State amounting to half of the costs when converting the brewhouse. “It’s actually a great deal for the city.”
From the municipal department it is said that the move of the private high school to Seeriederstraße is still in favor. A spokeswoman said nothing could be said about rents and the distribution of costs “for data protection reasons”. However, the responsible housing company GWG and the high school are “in constructive coordination with regard to cost sharing”. According to the department spokeswoman, work in the former brewhouse should begin in 2024 or 2025 – subject to the approval of the city council, to which the plans are to be presented this year. The move is planned for the turn of the year 2025/26, “in coordination with the private high school”.
We are “by no means a rich school”
Alone, they think that’s unrealistic there – if the town hall doesn’t go down with its rent demands. Ursula Berktold thinks this is appropriate, since the private grammar school not only fulfills a public task, but also reduces the city’s expenses. Because the Überreiter-Gymnasium is “by no means a rich school”. In fact, among the 300 students there are quite a few “who need a bit more attention,” says headmistress Beate Reitlinger. “We have many children with partial performance disorders or health restrictions, but also highly gifted and competitive athletes.” Even the municipal school advisory service recommends the Überreiter-Gymnasium for children with special needs, which usually costs 621 euros a month.
If the city’s demands were to be met, these school fees would have to be more than doubled as a result of the move, says Ursula Berktold. However, this is simply impossible. And so the managing director of the Munich School Foundation concludes: “Without social rent in the new building, we’re out.”