The Kirkkojärvi school hearing was held on October 8, 2025.

A hearing was held at Kirkkojärvi School on October 8, 2025. The event was attended by city representatives, city councilors and city residents. The event was opened by Mayor Ilari Soosalu. In his introduction, he discussed the development of the city's population and its effects on the review of the service network. The goal of conducting a timely review of services is to ensure high-quality service.

Director of Education and Training Suvi Takkinen initiated the discussion, which reviewed the basic information related to the process and recorded all the views of the participants. The consultation is based on the service network study conducted in 2023, of which the closure of Kirkkojärvi is a part. If Kirkkojärvi school is closed, the students from there will transfer to Pappilansalmi school.

After the hearing, the next step will be to conduct an impact assessment and the related child impact assessment. After the assessments, the matter will be forwarded to the Education and Training Committee and from there to the City Council. The final consideration will be made at the City Council meeting in December. 

School transportation was a topic of much discussion at the event. Currently, school transportation is provided from the area to Pappilansalmi School for middle school students. Many questions were raised at the event about how a child is entitled to free school transportation.

Growth and learning support coordinator Hanna Käkelä told the audience about the effects of the change on school attendance, learning and school attendance support. At Pappilansalmi School, teaching is organized by year group and, with the learning support reform, special education resources have been added. There was a wide-ranging discussion about group and student-specific support as well as the support measures offered by student care.