The giant stairs are one of the most spectacular elements in the school property.

Many compliments and development ideas for the feedback survey of the Mansikkala school center

Release
25.9.2020 15:00
The first ideas have already been put into further development. The children wish for more spider swings.

Clean and fresh indoor air, yard, light, and space are what the users of Mansikkala School Center like.

In the further development of the new building, we hope for more wall solutions to reduce noise. Changes are also needed to the internal access arrangements in the house. In addition, we want to increase the ventilation in some parts of the house and increase the heating in others.

The issues mentioned above emerged most strongly from the survey that the city of Imatra conducted for the students, guardians and staff of the Mansikkala school center. A wider survey of all users will be carried out in the winter.

There were plenty of responses to the survey, a total of 583.

─ We are really pleased with the number of responses. We were hoping for genuine feedback. It was wonderful to read sincere praise and good development ideas. There was clearly a lot of effort put into the answers. Above all, I was pleased that the students were active. As many as 53 percent of the respondents were students. 31 percent were guardians, director of communications Liisa Hupli-Oinonen says.

The survey had three parts. In the first, positive aspects of the new school were collected. The second question collected areas for development. In the third section, opinions were asked about the school yard and traffic arrangements.

─ The development feedback given was really constructive, we now got a lot of insights on how we can go about developing the school property. This house will be ready based on the users' experiences. In a way, we are now entering the final culmination of construction. We want to complete this property in a different way than it may have been done in the past, together with the users, space and safety manager Sami Turunen says.

The use of the new facilities is being practiced, sound solutions are also available

The soundscape of the school and moving from one teaching room to another aroused concern among the respondents. It was known in advance that the changes would be made according to what everyday life requires.

─ Plans for space solutions and the acquisition of some additional walls are already in the works. The new movable walls are custom-made for us, so their installation will take place at least partially during the Christmas holidays, Turunen says.

─ The use of the new facilities is also practiced all the time. Our operating culture changed significantly, and adaptation and change will take time. Good experiences have already been gained from the communal and versatile use of the premises. This method of operation will be continued, the change works are also intended to support the change of the operating culture, the head principal Lasse Tiilikka says.

In addition to open learning spaces, the school has more traditional classes and small group spaces. The use and functionality of the premises is currently also affected by the official instructions and regulations caused by the corona virus.

In addition, other acoustic solutions are being considered for some spaces. For example, the adjustment of the surround sound system can only be carried out after the autumn holiday.

In the survey, the sound world raised concerns, but also divided opinions. One commenter, for example, praised that the school is quieter than the old study hall.

Sound-insulated glass booths, various sofa groups and lounging booths are popular with students, both during recess and jump lessons.

You will add space for small students in the near future

The hustle and bustle on the side of the younger students will be calmed down with additional space.

─ We have thought of solutions together. From the early childhood education side, one learning space can now be organized for elementary school. We agreed on this on Thursday. The change will be made soon. Otherwise, continuous monitoring of space use is done all the time from one side to the other, daycare director Airi Kojo says.

In the survey, feedback was given on the property's temperature, both in terms of coldness and heat. More powers were also needed for the ventilation of some premises. YIT monitors the building's ventilation and temperature digitally. The situation can be leveled out throughout the house when the number of users in different areas stabilizes.

─ The new premises have only been in use for a month and a half. Now we need everyone's cooperation and patience so that we can finish them together. The implementation of the Vuoksenniska school center was similar, things were gradually modified based on the feedback received, says Turunen.

More swings in the yard

The yard is clearly popular. There was a lot of praise for it in the survey. When development ideas were asked, the need to add swings to the elementary school children's yard came up, especially spider swings. Turunen promises that the purchase of swings will be planned.

There were also questions about whether the students are allowed to play in the yard area where the children from early childhood education play.

─ Yard use has been developed together with basic education and early childhood education. Elementary school students can also use the small children's yard section at agreed times, Lasse Tiilikka assures.

Feedback has also been given on the parking lot situation for bicycles, mopeds and cars. We hope for more of these.

─ We have already allocated more parking space for mopeds. The need for additional bike racks is monitored, says Tiilikka.

The aim is to ease the shortage of car parking spaces, for example, by directing escort traffic to the designated spaces. In the future, the parking lot for students will be the parking lot of the bowling alley, which will free up space for staff from the parking lot in Crimea.

The anonymous survey was open from 17 to 24.9.2020 September XNUMX. It was announced in Wilma, on the city's website and on social media. We haven't had time to go through the answers in detail yet, but in this announcement the topics that emerged most clearly in the survey have been highlighted. Answers will be examined for different actors and development ideas will be weighed. The city of Imatra thanks everyone who answered.

 

For more information:

Facilities and security manager Sami Turunen, tel. 020 617 4450, sami.turunenatimatra.fi (sami[dot]turunen[at]imatra[dot]fi)

Mika Strömberg, co-ed high school principal, tel. 020 617 5709, mika.strombergatimatra.fi (mika[dot]stromberg[at]imatra[dot]fi)

Lasse Tiilikka, headmaster of Mansikkala basic education, tel. 020 617 5718, lasse. tilikkaatimatra.fi (lasse[dot]tiilikka[at]imatra[dot]fi)

Director of Communications Liisa Hupli-Oinonen, tel. 020 617 2400, liisa.hupli-oinonenatimatra.fi (liisa[dot]hupli-oinonen[at]imatra[dot]fi)

 

Praise, development ideas and yard comments 

(Short answers to the development ideas have been requested from the principals, the space and safety manager and the city engineer. The answers are published after the ideas)

These were praised

  1. Piha
  2. Indoor air and healthy spaces
  3. Brightness
  4. Size, sufficient space, space
  5. Furniture
  6. A modern school
  7. Sound system and soundproof glass booths
  8. Exercise facilities
  9. The Giant's Staircase
  10. No shoes

Development feedback/ideas

  1. For example, add movable wall solutions to open spaces.

→ Preliminary plans for the placement of the walls have been made together with the principals. More detailed planning will be done on 30.9. with YIT and the goal is that some of the walls can be installed during the Christmas holidays. Depending on the number of walls, the last wall solutions can be implemented during the next summer vacation, because the work has to be done during the school holidays. Some will be solved over time also by developing the operating culture.

  1. We hope for improvements in sound dampening. 

→ Both solutions that improve acoustics and necessary wall solutions are coming to the building. Adjusting the surround sound system is done when the high school's wall curtains are installed after the fall break, which also makes the situation easier. In the future, the open space near the stairs will only be used for teaching in exceptional situations.

  1. Passing through teaching facilities to another should be prevented/reduced.

 → Separation of some access routes is planned. This is partly solved by developing the operating culture.

  1. Dining (for example, some food sometimes runs out, the space feels cramped at peak times, the cleanliness of the dish room)

→ There has been a discussion with Saimaa's support services (Satu) about the times when some food has run out. By staggering more meal times, we have already managed to get more space in the canteen. We also pass on feedback about cleanliness.

  1. Air conditioning requires adjustment (in some rooms the air conditioning is not sufficient)

→ The air conditioning is constantly adjusted and almost all rooms have continuous measurement of the conditions and no exceeding of the S2 limit values ​​of the indoor air category has been observed in them. As soon as the number of users stabilizes, the regulations will be finally adjusted.

  1. Temperature regulation (too cool in some rooms, cold floor)

→ Let's also bring this feedback to YIT's attention. The delivery of the underfloor heating control units was delayed due to the corona virus, so adjusting the heating to balance will only be fixed in the fall.

  1. The WLAN network does not work sufficiently everywhere.

→ The situation has been made known and the matter is being worked on, the school will receive signal amplifiers from three operators during the fall, probably during the fall vacation.  

  1. Not all users, especially in the evening, comply with the shoeless requirement

→ It would be important to wear no shoes, because others walk in their socks and we don't want dirt on our feet to enter the interior. Guidance needs to be increased, we will make signs on the front doors informing about this.

  1. Deficiencies in cleaning, for example in the toilets 

→ We will pass this feedback on.

  1. The half hour clock is missing 

→ The half-time bells for the needs of the elementary school are played after the YO-writings.

Yard and traffic solutions

  1. The yard is great and the traffic arrangement has been handled really smartly.
  2. I would like more swings in the school yard.

→ The purchase of spider swings for the yard used by the elementary school is being considered based on this feedback. Quite a few children wished for them.

  1. Why isn't Kostinpuisto used as a break area?

→ The area will be used under teacher supervision, in the future also during long breaks.

  1. More space for mopeds.

→ Additional parking space has already been allocated for mopeds.

  1. More bike racks.

→ The matter is being investigated and possibly some more racks will be purchased.

  1. Dangerous situations in the underpass, driving hard and how does it hurt, is there anything that can be done?

→ You have to drive on the right in the tunnel, the guiding traffic signs have been ordered and they will arrive at the beginning of October. Strip painting will be done in the tunnel in October in conjunction with other paintings.

  1. A high fence is needed for the entire section of the ball field, so that the balls do not bounce onto staff cars and make dents.

→ There is a discussion about fences with YIT.

  1. Suojatie to be provided at the intersection of Ruokosuonkatu and Karjaportikatu

→ Painting and signs coming in October.

  1. Parents make U-turns on Koulukatu and at the Ruokosuontie intersection on Tainionkoskentie when bringing children, can they get a U-turn ban?

→ Let's order the prohibition signs for U-turns right away, they will come at the beginning of October.

  1. When will the parking lot paintings be delivered to the Crimean parking lot?

→ During October.

"The new premises have only been in use for a month and a half. Now we need everyone's cooperation and patience so that we can finish them together."

- Sami Turunen -

 

 

Direct quotes from survey responses

  • "It's nice that there is a big yard and nice parkour stones and places and a small forest. It's nice to be able to move around better than the old spaces and have more space and the käsä and photo classes are big and nice."
  • "Light, cleanliness, surveillance cameras. Modern teaching facilities, with a little improvement (partition walls and doors and windows) are very functional."
  • "The soundproofing of the high school's large space could be stronger"
  • "Work spaces for small and slightly older students, where voices from other classes would not be heard. "