School in Kehlen: future uncertain after floods – citizens asked!

School in Kehlen: future uncertain after floods – citizens asked!

On May 17, 2025, Mayor Georg Schellinger informed the Meckenbeuren municipal council about the return of private owners to their homes after the devastating flood disaster that severely affected the town. In the last few days, the focus has been on the consequences of the flood for public facilities in Kehlen, including the elementary school, the hall and the village community center (DGH).

The discussion about the future of the primary school location in Kehlen was intense. A key question was whether the school should remain in its current location or move to a new location. The local council is planning a total of 14 proposed resolutions to renovate the affected facilities and make them usable.

Cleanup and return to normality

After the devastating floods that brought almost 30 million liters of water into the Kehler elementary school and the adjacent sports grounds, the return to normality is now clear. Clean-up work has been underway for a day and a half, helped by sunny weather. The flooded primary school is expected to reopen on Thursday after the water has been successfully pumped out and power has been restored. The Schussen River overflowed its banks over the weekend, forcing around 1,300 people to evacuate their homes.

The water level of the shots had reached over 4.86 meters on Saturday evening. Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann and Interior Minister Thomas Strobl recently visited the flood area to get an idea of ​​the situation. A spokeswoman for the municipality reported that all polling stations are ready for the upcoming local and European elections on Sunday.

Future of educational institutions

In Kehlen, the community controls the relocations and renovation projects. The school's basement is in the final stages of renovation, although flood protection measures are also planned. The room should be usable again from June, although the cost of installing a wooden floor was 104,000 euros. The renovation of the DGH has not yet been completed, and a mixed use of the school to enable all-day care from 2026 is being considered.

However, consideration was also given to whether the school should be moved to a new location, with book being brought up as a possible new location. A possible relocation of the school location could soon be discussed, as the municipality strives to provide comprehensive information about current developments and involve citizens in decision-making. There is agreement that the primary school is of great importance for the community and that sensible reuse of the school grounds is necessary.

In addition, it was discussed that the bowling alley would not be rebuilt due to flood damage. Instead, 145,000 euros will go into protective measures for the hall, while the users of the hall's basement were able to express their wishes to make the room flood-resistant. Flood and groundwater damage cannot be insured, which further complicates the remediation situation.

The community sees the complete return to normality in Meckenbeuren as progress, as overflowing sewers have now been flushed out and showers and toilet use are possible again in all parts of the district. The fire department assessed the damage to the affected residents and organized special trips for bulky waste to support the clean-up work and documentation of the damage. While the municipality strives to ensure the quality of the infrastructure, the discussion about the school location and future use remains a central issue.

For further information on developments in the Meckenbeuren community, please visit Schwäbische.de and Süddeutsche.de.