First graders are coming out: the new school in Shevely refused to admit over 40 seven-year-olds.

      However, the Department of Education tirelessly insists on the "lack of places," although for more than two years the regional-municipal political and educational leadership has been boasting about the start and completion of a school designed for 1606 students. If working in two shifts, it could educate 2200-2400 students simultaneously.

      It is also openly admitted that the current enrollment in the school barely exceeds 1200 students. And only "in strict confidence" did Newsler.ru share information that the real reason for the refusal is "a complete shortage of teachers." This hardly can serve as an "objective justification" for not complying with legislation.

      Moreover, even two years earlier, former regional government head Alexander Churin spoke of a potential "educational crisis" related to the lack of teaching staff. But neither the Ministry nor the Department of Education paid any heed to the former head of regional government’s calculations, preferring to follow the logic "of a former and frankly disliked politician by the new regional leadership," merely throwing around figures of "achievements."

      One can also refer to the "unnoticed" speeches of deputies Vladimir Zhuravlev and Denis Erokhin, who talk about an impending shortage of teaching staff due to expected growth in "new school places." After the national project "Education," eventually completed by the Kirov region, the number of places is expected to increase by 10-12 thousand.

      Thus, the "first swallow" — the school built in Shevelyakh — delivered an expected result: there are enough places and educational spaces, but the first-grade intake is complete: four first classes of 25 students each have been enrolled, since teachers are not so much lacking as they are simply unavailable. And while outraged parents of "registered children" are filing complaints with the prosecutor's office and the ministry, the "education authorities" found a solution, probably in a categorical ban on the director of School No. 28, Nikolai Tselishev, "poaching teachers from other schools."

      Interestingly, the claim that "class sizes are limited to 25 students" is also false, just like all other "high-level fabrications." Last academic year, School No. 28 opened three first classes of 30 students each, who were then successfully transferred in the same numbers to the second grade in the new school building. Therefore, parents' opinions about "double standards" are unlikely to be mistaken.

      By the way, according to a "gray house" report, which parents of the rejected first-graders also mentioned repeatedly, at least two children "were admitted to the school through powerful connections" — probably the governor’s son and the child of a regional ministry head. And if two children are admitted under "undisputed political privileges," who received the remaining 98 places (out of 156 applications)?

      As explained by a legislative source, the students who received places belong to privileged categories: children of law enforcement officers and municipal healthcare workers, as well as families with "special considerations regarding the SVO." Additionally, younger siblings of those already studying at School No. 28 — which this spring "entirely" transferred from the old building at 52 Lenin Street to 55 Profsoyunaya Street, with a total of 1117 students and staff — also received places.

      By the way, from the "very angry parents of first-graders," Ekaterina — mother of a future student, who only needs to cross the street (from 50 Profsoyunaya to 55) to reach the school — addressed Newsler.ru:

      "On the day I submitted my application, the time of sending my statement was recorded — 9:07 in the morning. But on July 3, I did not find my daughter’s name on the enrollment list. They explained that there were no places... That applications stopped being accepted at the exact second I submitted mine... And that there are two other schools nearby — No. 10 and No. 48. But why should I send my child to the old school where each class has... 30–38 students? Is that legal?

      And I want to know why they count salaries 'by heads,' and why the more children there are — the higher the teacher’s salary? And who will prove to me otherwise, that when classes are 'packed like sardines in a barrel,' the knowledge they gain is far superior to that of a standard class of 25 first-graders? Especially since each has their own desk. Or is it criminal or shameful to want the best for your child?"

      Interestingly, there are slightly over 40 "angry parents" like Ekaterina (a mother of three children, with a veteran spouse) — forming two incomplete classes. One mother claims her two twin sons were split: one was admitted to the new school, and the other was not. Deputy Vladimir Zhuravlev called this "a clear violation of the law" and promised to "help."

      In turn, Newsler.ru advised parents not to waste time complaining to Director Nikolai Tselishev, who is himself a hostage of "political unresolved issues and foreseeable circumstances," but to write to the Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation, and even the Presidential Reception.

      This way, the attempt by the "education officials" to justify themselves with "the school director’s sluggishness" and the lack of places, rather than admitting personal incompetence or shortsightedness, would not deprive children of their legal right to study at a school near their place of residence. Also, privileged "categories" were not accepted "axiomatically by Kirov standards" when deciding who should attend the new school and who should be excluded, especially since all of them live nearby.