By Jean-Claude Bonnemère
Published on
May 6, 24 at 12:00
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The date of Saturday April 27, 2024 will not soon fade from the memory of the inhabitants of the new commune of Cressensac-Sarrazacbecause of the importance of the event that it inscribes in its history: the inauguration of its school “ Thomas Pesquet », which is admired by everyone!
Personalities, parents of students, happy residents, of all generations… were unanimous in welcoming the success of the different aspects of this establishment, both from an architectural point of view and in terms of its equipment.
Habib Fenni, mayor of Cressensac-Sarrazac, lived a day of glory, which could not be disputed, by presenting this newborn, whose birth pains spread over several years. Surrounded by a host of personalities, first and foremost the prefect and sub-prefect, the senators of Lot, the regional councilor of the Occitanie Region, the president of the Lot Department, the President of Cauvaldor, the departmental director of the National Education, the presidents of associations, the architects, the deputy for Lot had claimed an impediment.
More than a school, a center of attraction
From the outset the mayor, beaming with a smile, expressed his feeling of joy, emphasizing how “we have imagined this moment over and over again”. How could he not be fulfilled as mayor and former teacher, to inaugurate a school whose design and gestation he followed step by step until its complete realization. More than 4 years were necessary, between the first contacts with the architectural firms, the work, the start of the school year and the inauguration. 4 years of work and questions, he insists, to make this place an emblematic space in Cressensac-Sarrazac. Mr. Fenni gives the priorities that governed this public order: a space where children and teachers feel good. The mayor adds: “a space which demonstrates our desire to place this school in a dynamic village looking to the future, an attractive space for families looking for a village where everything is designed to welcome them as best as possible. »
Close three schools to create a new one
Before the creation of the new commune at 1er January 2019, the commune of Sarrazac had two schools, one in Sarrazac and the other at Hôpital-Saint-Jean, which both needed to be renovated, as did the third located near the Cressensac church, with on the program: upgrading, insulation, space, security, etc. Furthermore, an RPI was in place with Cazillac and a project for a new school did not come to fruition in 2017. It is from this inventory that the new commune had to take the bull by the horns, at the risk of taking a few blows here or there in the face of the reluctance of a few elected officials and a part of the population who could not rejoice at the closure of the village school.
The dynamics of a new commune
Ultimately, it was the dynamic set in motion by the new commune of Cressensac-Sarrazac which brought a new opportunity. The idea of bringing together the three schools, Cressensac, Sarrazac and Hôpital-Saint-Jean in a single place became a unifying element for the emerging community. This project on track becomes a structuring element for the municipality. And the mayor gave details: “We were fortunate with the regrouping of Cressensac and Sarrazac to exceed 15% of the canton’s population and therefore to benefit from the Bourg center grant. This State grant aims to help municipalities with a certain number of inhabitants to make structuring investments for the territory. In 2019, it was 77,000 euros, in 2024 it is 106,000 euros that the municipality would not have had without the new municipality. This Bourg center allocation made it possible to build a school without preventing other investments in the town. The project finally made progress, because the inhabitants of the two municipalities, in 2020, renewed their confidence in the municipal team in place for this project which had been presented during the electoral campaign. Another sticking point that could have hampered the project was going from 5 classes to 4 classes. “Having 18 students on average in your class or 24 like today, it’s not quite the same” recognizes Mr. Fenni, who still managed to win the approval of his fellow teachers.
The project became reality: a BEPOS school
Then comes the moment of thanks, for which the mayor strives not to forget anyone. The municipality opted for a building with “virtuous environmental characteristics”. It is a BEPOS, with positive energy. Thanks to the photovoltaic energy produced with the panels on the roof of this school, more electricity is produced over the year than is consumed. This month, the equivalent of 24 households could have been served with the renewable energy produced here at the school. Since November 1, 2023, 1,530 kg of CO2 have been saved, which corresponds to 527 liters of fuel or 768 m3 of natural gas. “We produce between 2,000 and 7,000 KWH of solar energy per month,” explains the mayor. The surplus electricity produced is sent back into the EDF network and should allow a financial return of around 3 to 4,000 euros per year. Regarding geothermal energy, 7 geothermal probes go down to 140 meters and generate heating in winter and GEO-cooling in summer. Geo-COOLING will reduce the temperature in classrooms by 3 to 4 degrees.
Spacious classrooms of 60 m2
In terms of premises, spacious classrooms were favored with the mandated architect Mr. Arcangeli and Mr. Crabos, architect from Vayrac, who monitored the work. For each class, at the request of the teachers, a 15m² workshop was added for activities related to the class. Finally, beyond the 4 classes, a 60m² motor skills room has been created which can be transformed into a class if an increase in numbers allows it to increase to 5 classes. Today, the establishment brings together 95 students in this school. A school daycare welcomes up to 35 children, managed by the Rionet multi-meeting association.
And why “Thomas Pesquet”
It is the mayor who gives the answer himself: “Thomas Pesquet represents national pride, particularly among young people aged 7-14. His name and his exploits are known to current generations. He has become one of the defenders of the planet and warns of the fragility of the earth and therefore the need to preserve it. »
An avalanche of congratulations
On the platform, elected officials and the prefect took turns to express their feelings about this superb school establishment. Beyond the structure itself, it is the school which has been praised in the field of values of the Republic.
– Christophe Proença: (an ode to the school of the Republic). Going beyond the figures, legal and financial arrangements developed by the mayor, Christophe Proença, president of Cauvaldor, intervenes with his guts. He seeks to translate what the school of the Republic represents, for him, the son of immigration, as is also the case for Habib Fenni and a number of other people in the assembly. He says everything he owes to public schools; what she made of him and the values within which he forged his life. It takes up the motto of the Republic with Liberty and all the fields of possibilities that it opens to everyone. Equality, for its part, allows everyone to be judged on their work and their involvement. » And to Fraternity, so dear to all, he adds Secularism, in the face of extremism and obscurantism, which cause so much misfortune these days. He resounds with this famous quote of “Build schools, you will close prisons”.
– Geneviève Lasfargues: (on behalf of the Occitanie Region). As regional councilor for Occitanie, she promotes the role of the Region in the context of public policies and is delighted with this inauguration with functional premises and quality equipment. She welcomes the choice of Thomas Pesquet’s name for the establishment, “the beating heart of the village”.
– Serge Rigal, president of the Lot Department: The elected official highlights the interest for the territory in having evolved towards a new Commune, despite the tensions that this may have caused. “A courageous project led by elected officials”! he insists, which led to the construction of this school. » Without the new Commune, such a project would not have been possible! » he notes. Serge Rigal welcomes the commitments of the State which plans to provide 50% aid for the regeneration of the old premises of the three schools which have closed their doors. Taking advantage of his speech, Serge Rigal announces the launch of the renovation work on the Martel college, spread over several phases, taking into account the school periods.
– Jean-Marc Vayssouze-Faure, senator and president of elected officials from Lot, welcomes the presence of Jean-Claude Requier, his predecessor in the Senate, and describes this inauguration as a “great moment”. It emphasizes the role of elected officials and the mayor in particular, who played a decisive role in carrying out such an operation. And he adds: “The school, the most beautiful, noblest weapon of the Republic! “.
– Raphaël Daubet, senator from Lot, also greets former senator Jean-Claude Requier. He praises the combination of the school and the commune, the crucible of the values of the Republic, the fertile and protective womb of the Republic, where the future of our nation must be born. He calls for the values of the Republic, to protect against authoritarian regimes, religious fanaticism, corporatism and counterfeiters.
– Ms Raulin, prefect of Lot, is also delighted with this great moment by highlighting all the qualities of this establishment, which “embodies modernity in a rural environment”. She adds: “Like a space station placed in the middle of a field.” She congratulates the elected officials for their courage and determination, which made it possible, by coming together in a New commune, to build an ambitious service project for the benefit of the entire population. The prefect calls for defending the school, the crucible of the Republic. She is enthusiastic about the choice of Thomas Pesquet, for the name of the establishment, whose father was a teacher and whose childhood dreams came true: airplane pilot then astronaut… She concludes with a reference to Thomas Pesquet: “The school is the renewal of the nation; without the free and compulsory Republic school, I would not have done much with my life…”
In Cressensac-Sarrazac, with the Thomas Pesquet school, a new page in local history opens with the motto which could be summed up as follows: feet on the ground and head in the stars!
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