The école Simone-Veil, a building looking to the future

This ambitious project, designed in a reasoned manner, supports the demographic growth of the town while improving the reception and learning conditions for young Farlédois. Since May 19, students and teachers from the former école maternelle Marius-Gensollen have taken possession of the premises, benefiting from a modern, functional, and sustainable environment.

L’école Simone-Veil, un bâtiment tourné vers l’avenir

LONG-TERM VISION Faced with population growth and changing pedagogical practices, the Municipalité decided to renovate and expand the existing school group rather than building an ex-nihilo establishment. This decision was praised for its consistency, cost control, and long-term vision. The école Simone-Veil thus replaces the former école maternelle Marius-Gensollen, which had become obsolete, and allows for the expansion of the école élémentaire Jean-Monnet.

It includes 15 classes – 11 in nursery and 4 additional in elementary – which is three more than in the former premises, destined for demolition. The school group consists of three buildings, designed to meet current requirements, with a main single-story building dedicated to nursery classes, a second split-level building including a refectory for nursery classes, classrooms on two floors, and an educational roof terrace, and a third housing a 248 m² extracurricular hall, named salle Marius-Gensollen, in tribute to the former school director.

ENERGY PERFORMANCE Several infrastructures complete this complex, notably a secure and green pedestrian path, a “place des écoles”, a friendly space connecting the different buildings, and a 75-space ecological parking lot, built on the site of the former école Gensollen with a focus on soil depaving and sustainability. There are also 30 parking spaces in front of the new school, with 10 to come in the rue des Écoles. The Ville has also redeveloped the cemetery parking lot, providing a significant increase in capacity.

Since 2022, the commune has committed to a deep overhaul of its schools, structured around three major areas, including energy performance (thermal insulation, roof renovation, photovoltaic panels, consumption optimization) and digital modernization (interactive equipment, modernized computer networks, transformation of digital spaces). It also involves sustainable redevelopment (greening of courtyards, rainwater management) and the creation of green spaces and educational vegetable gardens. “These initiatives are part of an urban restructuring approach, including the creation of the rue des Écoles, new secure pedestrian pathways, as well as a future 40-space parking lot,” specified the first magistrate.

To involve the Farlédois in this structuring project, the Municipalité launched a public consultation in late 2024 to choose the name of this school. Among several proposed figures, Simone Veil, an iconic figure of humanism, courage, and republican transmission, was widely chosen.

“I wanted this choice to come from the residents. The result is a true honor for our town,” declared the mayor.

This major project was made possible thanks to the financial support of numerous institutional partners. “I thank the État, the Région, the Département, the Communauté de communes de la Vallée du Gapeau as well as the Caisse d'Allocations Familiales (CAF) for their commitment alongside us, serving children and families,” concluded Yves Palmieri.