This school year, there are five elementary schools in Limbazi municipality where the number of students does not meet the criteria set by the state, and the lowest student numbers are in Grades 7-9, according to Sigita Upmale (Vidzeme Party), chair of the Limbazi municipal council, in an interview with LETA. This means that the educational level of one of these five schools could be changed. The number of students over the past three years, teacher workloads, distances from pupils’ homes to school, potential routes to other schools, and how student transportation can be ensured still need to be analyzed, therefore changes to the school network could take effect as of September 1, 2027.

One of the most important issues affecting every municipality is the school network. What has the Education and Science Minsitry recommended to the municipality, and are you satisfied with this proposal?

It is not that we have received any specific recommendations. In December, a meeting was held in Limbazi with representatives from the Education and Science Ministry, as well as representatives from the relevant Saeima committee. At this meeting, we submitted documents to apply for funds from the Recovery Fund, which are intended to strengthen the education network in the field of education.

However, because the general education school network in the Limbazi municipality is not yet organized, we did not qualify for the fund’s resources in this round, as the municipal school network still does not meet the specified quantitative indicators. According to data as of September 1, 2025, this situation has been identified in certain educational stages at the Liepupe, Staicele, Ladezers, Vidrizi, and Pale elementary schools. These schools show discrepancies in student numbers across different educational levels, especially Grades 7-9.

Another question concerns the timeline: could decisions regarding changes take effect as early as the next school year, or, more likely, in 2027?

If significant decisions are made, they would most likely take effect on September 1, 2027. At this time, we do not see a possibility of implementing such changes within a few months. Furthermore, the new Cabinet of Ministers regulations for the Program at School model regarding funding calculation criteria have not yet been approved. The regulations have passed the coordination phase but have not yet been approved by the government.

For our part, we are not rushing into anything at the moment, unless financial instruments emerge that we could utilize to strengthen the material and technical infrastructure, particularly in the largest schools in the city of Limbazi. It is precisely these schools that we see as potential host schools in the event that the level of education is changed in a particular location.

Previously, the government decided on the redistribution of European Union funding for school infrastructure improvements, which was not allocated to the Limbazi municipality. For which schools and for what purposes did you request funding?

We had not submitted specific projects with precisely defined objectives. As I mentioned, the network of educational institutions in the municipality is not well-organized. The council adopted a conceptual decision on the reorganization of the network of educational institutions by September 1, 2027, while explaining to the ministry how data on compliance with the student enrollment criteria would be monitored. If we are ready to change the levels of education, then at the same time we must strengthen the material and technical base of schools in the city of Limbazi. The infrastructure and equipment there are wearing out over time.

What funds are allocated from the municipal budget this year to strengthen the city’s schools?

If we look at the municipal budget, this year’s investment in infrastructure is the renovation of the staff dormitory, for which we have taken out a loan from the Treasury. We also assess the priority needs of educational institutions each year and allocate funding accordingly. We recently allocated funds to Limbazi Secondary School to address issues necessary for ensuring the daily educational process.

We also fund teachers’ workloads at all educational institutions, and we have covered all needs related to the curriculum from the municipal budget. When it comes to small schools, the situation is such that approximately 50 percent of teachers’ salaries are covered by the state’s targeted grant for teacher salaries, while the other 50 percent comes from the municipal budget.

How do you assess the process of reorganizing vocational art and music schools in the municipality? What have you learned from this experience, and what will you take into account in the future?

Yes, we have gained both experience and certain lessons from this process, regarding communication and work processes that need to be improved in the future. What we observed was that incomplete and misinterpreted information entered the public sphere and spread widely during the communication process.

Our intention and desire was to optimize only administrative resources, but this would in no way affect either the educational process or pupils. However, we saw that the information was being misinterpreted, for example, that educational institutions in Salacgriva would be closed and children would be sent to Limbazi, which was absolutely untrue.

The initial intention was to create a single educational institution while keeping all program locations where they currently are. This means retaining both the programs and the teachers who work with the children. The optimization would affect only the administrative level - principals, their deputies, and support staff. That was the initial idea, and that is exactly what was discussed with the heads of the institutions in early February.

But perhaps you should have handled things a little differently - by sharing the information with the public even before discussing it with the heads of the institutions?

Initially, it was important to discuss this proposed solution with the heads of the institutions. At the same time, we saw that the information was being interpreted differently in the public space. Of course, we realize that we need to communicate with the public more broadly and in a timely manner. There are various reasons why this did not happen successfully at first. Therefore, seeing misleading interpretations in some cases, we began to organize meetings with parents more actively and explain the situation.

The situation was influenced by the broader public and political context, and this issue sparked active public debate. At first, the discussions were not constructive, largely due to differing interpretations of the information. However, when we engaged in direct talks with the parent councils of the Salacgriva School of Music and Art, the situation changed significantly. It was a detailed and very constructive conversation. We discussed many specific issues, and it became clear to what extent the public’s reaction had been influenced by information that had initially been disseminated inaccurately. If parents are told that something will be closed and their children will no longer have access to opportunities, it naturally creates a great deal of commotion. That is why we also expressed our gratitude to the parents for their involvement and for the fact that we were able to reach a constructive discussion.

We also thanked the parents for getting involved - they articulated their wishes very clearly, and we also heard specific points that we ourselves had not sufficiently appreciated until then. This made us look at the learning process differently, both in terms of quality and various aspects that had not been analyzed as thoroughly before.

We also need to think about what and how we monitor on a regular basis. In local governments, the greatest emphasis is usually placed on mandatory education - preschool, elementary education, and secondary education - where there are centralized exams and clearly achievable results. Consequently, more attention is paid to these areas, while vocational education often takes a back seat.

It cannot be said that this was a successful or unsuccessful process, but we have now arrived at a solution acceptable to both parties.

Initially, we saw an opportunity to create a single strong institution, drawing on the experience of the region, which historically has had a single large vocational sports education institution. However, during this process, it became clear that what matters most to the child is that this education be accessible as close to home as possible and that a strong teacher works with them. That is the key link that ensures quality education. Therefore, our task is to strengthen local educators and ensure that programs are implemented in all locations where they currently operate.

What is the situation regarding teacher staffing in Limbazi municipality? Are any special support measures needed?

In the town of Limbazi, there is a particular shortage of STEM teachers. The educational process is being maintained, but an additional teacher who is prepared to teach mathematics at the state gymnasium would be needed. For example, there is a vacancy for a mathematics teacher at Limbazi State Gymnasium. We also see a shortage of specialists in physics and chemistry.

There is also a significant shortage of support staff - psychologists, speech therapists, and special education teachers. This is a problem throughout the country, and we face it as well.

We have also introduced support mechanisms. For example, if a person is studying in the education field and is willing to come work in our municipality, they can receive a 50 percent tuition reimbursement, provided they work for the municipality for at least three years after graduation.

We have also developed scholarship regulations for both the education and healthcare sectors. Discussions are still ongoing regarding the criteria and scope of which specialties should be prioritized for such support.

We are also working on another support mechanism - starting with the new academic year, we plan to introduce transportation cost reimbursements for teachers. We have compiled data on how many teachers commute to work from other locations, where they come from, and what their qualifications are. Criteria are currently being developed, and the plan is to approve them by May so that this system can be implemented starting with the new school year. In addition, health insurance is also available to teachers in our municipality.

Speaking of healthcare, what role will your hospital play in the new hospital network? What will you be able to provide, and what will you not be able to provide?

In the healthcare sector, everything is still under discussion. Discussions are underway regarding the reform of the new hospital network. We invited the Minister of Health to Limbazi to discuss the situation in person.

Our biggest concern initially was that the hospital might have its emergency medical services reduced or even eliminated. However, by presenting data on both the distances to other hospitals and actual accessibility, we demonstrated to the minister that the established accessibility criteria do not actually apply in our region. Consequently, it was clear that on-site emergency care must be maintained.

Another important argument was that the hospital had already submitted projects to the structural funds to improve access points for the emergency care infrastructure. If these services were reduced, it would automatically affect other services at the hospital as well, since medical staff often work at multiple healthcare facilities. If the volume decreases in one place, it affects the entire system.

The hospital has also used structural funds, improved its infrastructure, established new examination rooms, purchased modern equipment, and is continuously improving its operations. In terms of funding as well, compared to other municipalities, our situation is not as critical, there is a reduction, but it is small. This is largely also the result of the fact that in negotiations with the Ministry of Health, we were able to justify our situation and demonstrate the actual volume of services.

Consequently, it currently appears that we will retain our status as a first-level hospital and also maintain our current range of services. The minister saw that this hospital is capable of providing high-quality services on-site.

Our geographical location must also be taken into account - the Tallinn highway, proximity to Saulkrasti and Adazi - which is why many residents from surrounding municipalities use our hospital specifically. Unfortunately, serious traffic accidents occur on the Tallinn highway, and in such situations, it is very important to have a hospital nearby that can respond quickly. From this perspective, our hospital is strategically important.

And what about the availability of medical staff?

Overall, the situation at the hospital is stable, and this is largely thanks to the hospital administration. However, there are challenges with family doctors.

It is a nationwide problem that doctors are aging. Here, too, two family doctors will retire this year, and two more next year. In one case, a replacement has already been found; in the other, patients will most likely be transferred to other doctors. We also see that new specialists will be needed next year, and it currently looks like we will be able to attract them.

One tool is municipal apartments - we are renovating them and offering them to both teachers and medical professionals. Hospital management is also informing potential specialists about this opportunity. In addition, there is the scholarship program I mentioned earlier. Currently, we are considering that family doctors could be a priority, as there is a need in this field and it will remain so in the future.

Limbazi municipality is facing issues with road surface quality. What projects are planned for this year, and how much funding has been allocated from the state and municipal budgets?

Yes, roads are a problem not only in Limbazi municipality, but throughout Latvia. We are no exception. There are roads that are in good condition, such as the Tallinn highway; Tuja-Limbazi road is also in fairly good condition; Limbazi-Valmiera section was recently renovated; and the Limbazi-Ragana section toward Vidrizi has been partially renovated.

Work on Limbazi-Ragana road section will not continue this year, but following discussions with Latvijas Valsts Celi (LVC) state road manager, it appears that work may resume in 2027. A simpler solution was initially planned, but in reality, there are complex, marshy sections that require more serious design work and greater investment. This road is included in the plan.

There are also other problematic roads, such as Limbazi-Aloja route, which is in poor condition and needs to be repaired. Gravel roads that require resurfacing are also a priority.

LVC has presented its plan for the coming years - 2026, 2027, and 2028. Work will proceed, but only to the extent that funding is available. It should be noted that European structural fund financing is currently decreasing, and the new planning period is just beginning, so resources are limited.

And what about municipal funding for road repairs? Will you be able to allocate funds for this, especially after the long winter, which also required significant resources for road maintenance?

The municipality has developed a three-year plan for road maintenance and repairs. So far, we have not received any indications that funding was overspent during the winter. There are planned works being carried out, and there are also previously postponed works that still need to be completed, including those where funding also comes from structural funds.

Now, in spring, we are also identifying specific road sections where the contractor will need to perform warranty repairs in areas where the pavement was not laid to a high standard previously.

At the same time, routine maintenance work is underway. Funding for these tasks is allocated in the budget, and there are currently no indications that it will be insufficient.

To what extent have residents’ requests for social benefits increased due to the cold winter?

At the start of budget planning, we had already anticipated a significant increase - nearly EUR 700,000 in additional funding specifically for social assistance. This was due both to the increase in benefits mandated by law and to the actual situation: the cold winter meant higher utility bills, and residents turned to housing benefits more frequently.

In January 2026, benefits were paid to 305 households. In February, the number rose to 382 households, with the total amount exceeding EUR 51,000 euros. Compared to the previous year, the increase is approximately 12.5 percent.

Thus, the demand for social assistance is growing. We are also actively informing residents that such assistance is available.

When do you plan to open applications for the residents’ councils? It seems you are one of the last municipalities where residents’ councils have not yet been established.

It is difficult to say why this process was not completed during the previous council term.

We began working on it in the fall. Currently, the regulations have been approved, and the process is moving forward; we plan to announce the application process in April. Meanwhile, when meeting with residents, we explain how the councils will operate, how the application process will work, and who is eligible to become a council member. We plan for the elections to take place in July or August.

In which areas do you expect the greatest contribution from residents’ councils?

In my opinion, if people who truly care about their community get involved in the councils, the range of issues can be very broad, depending on the specific needs of the area.

Currently, we see that residents are most often concerned about roads, water management, and sewage - these are the core issues in all meetings with residents. However, I would like residents to get more actively involved, for example, in participatory budgeting projects, so that they themselves come up with initiatives and ideas for developing their environment.

I see the councils as partners in cooperation, not as a bureaucratic burden. They should help the local government better hear residents and receive proposals that are already constructively formulated.

Of course, this does not mean that all issues must be resolved solely through resident councils. Every resident can still contact the local government directly - with a request, question, or problem. The councils could be of greater assistance with broader issues of importance to the community, such as in the area of civil protection. We are already encouraging residents to think about what in their area could serve as shelters, what local resources are available, and how to enhance safety.