The byråd (city council) approves DKK 19.4 million for Elev Skole as new department of Kaløvigskolen

Aarhus byråd adopted on Wednesday 23 September 2026 the recommendation to convert Elev Skole into a new department of Kaløvigskolen. The capital grant is DKK 19.4 million, the sale of the school is cancelled, and the programme is expanded to grades 0–10 with room for 36 pupils.

What this means for you

Kaløvigskolen gets an additional department in Elev, set up for pupils with emotional, social and behavioural difficulties. Where the school today only goes to grade 6, pupils can in future remain in a continuous special programme all the way through grade 10. Elev Skole stands empty from the 2026/27 school year, after pupils moved to Ravnbakkeskolen in Nye. The first phase is expected ready for the 2027/28 school year; the remainder after the autumn break 2027. Premises under Kultur og Borgerservice, Sport og Fritid will continue to be available for use outside school opening hours.

Background

Kaløvigskolen is a special school for pupils with emotional, social and behavioural difficulties, which according to the recommendation in many cases stem from pupils' upbringing environments. The school today has classes from grades 0–6 and is funded for 30 pupils. Børn og Unge assesses that there is a need for more places and for a programme covering the full school journey through grade 10.

With Budget 2026 the byråd allocated DKK 22.9 million to prepare Elev Skole and meet the existing revenue requirement on the property. Teknik og Miljø and Børn og Unge recommended on 2 September 2026 that a capital grant of DKK 19.4 million be given, that the appropriation be distributed with DKK 2.1 million in 2026 and DKK 17.3 million in 2027, and that the sale of Elev Skole be cancelled so the revenue requirement of DKK 3.5 million in 2026 is met. The magistrat recommended on 15 September 2026 that the byråd adopt the recommendation. Borgmesterens Afdeling had no comments.

The school is fitted out with six home-area rooms with their own toilets, kitchenettes, cloakrooms and direct access to outdoor areas, plus subject rooms for science, arts, music, IT and home economics as well as meeting and staff facilities, library, health visiting and shared kitchen. Capacity is established within the school's existing building footprint without extension. The heritage-listed activity hall is refreshed, and outdoor areas are adapted among other things with more taxi stands as well as electric minibuses. Teknik og Miljø, Aarhus Ejendomme is the developer. Building 01 and 02 – activity hall, three home-area rooms and staff facilities – are expected ready for the 2027/28 school year; building 03 with a further three home-area rooms and subject rooms after the autumn break 2027. The project was developed in dialogue with the head teacher and pedagogical leader from Kaløvigskolen.

Figures and facts

• Capital grant: DKK 19.4 million for conversion and renovation; total capital expenditure DKK 22.9 million including meeting the revenue requirement of DKK 3.5 million (Appendix — Recommendation)
• Appropriation: DKK 2.1 million in 2026 and DKK 17.3 million in 2027 (Appendix — Recommendation)
• Six classes for 36 pupils in total; Kaløvigskolen today is funded for 30 pupils in grades 0–6 (Appendix — Recommendation)
• First phase ready for the 2027/28 school year; remainder after the autumn break 2027 (Appendix — Recommendation)
• Conversion without extension: approx. DKK 11,158 per m² on 1,739 m² gross floor area (Appendix — Appendix 2: Key figures for unit prices)
• Annual operating costs estimated at DKK 1.4 million for building operations plus DKK 0.3 million for increased management; with Budget 2026 the byråd allocated DKK 1.7 million annually from 2028 and DKK 1.15 million in 2027 (Appendix — Recommendation)

Who said what

Matilde Dueholm (S) emphasized that the case is about a place where children can belong and feel safe, and that Kaløvigskolen with the recommendation gets both more places and a programme from grade 0 to 10. She also highlighted that the school must continue to be available locally for sport and leisure activities, and the Social Democrats adopted the recommendation.

Mette Bjerre (SF) called it a good follow-up to the budget agreement on expanding capacity to grade 10, pointed out that operating funds have also been allocated, and adopted the recommendation.

Martin Christensen (V) referred to experiences with pupils who after grade 6 were not carried forward from the Kaløvigskolen community, and viewed positively a continuous programme through grade 10. Venstre emphasized that leaders and staff from both Kaløvigskolen and Sølystskolen are closely involved, and adopted the recommendation.

Jeppe Ulrich Lomholt (EL) highlighted parents' demand for stability and the joy that good interventions can continue after grade 6. Enhedslisten adopted the recommendation.

Mahad Yussuf (RV) backed the recommendation and the need for the places, but raised a principled discussion: if more children develop emotional, social and behavioural difficulties linked to upbringing environment, politicians must also ask how to support earlier so special programmes do not become the default answer. The ambition should according to him be both a good special programme and prevention.

The borgmester (mayor) noted that the case with those comments had been adopted.

What happens next

The case is returned to Magistratsafdelingen for Teknik og Miljø and Magistratsafdelingen for Børn og Unge. Aarhus Ejendomme continues as developer with the conversion, so Elev Skole can be ready in phases towards the 2027/28 school year.

Sources

• Minutes — Conversion of Elev Skole for Kaløvigskolen's target group
• Appendix — Recommendation
• Appendix — Appendix 2: Key figures for unit prices
• Aarhus Municipality meeting documents — the meeting
• Aarhus Kommune

Other appendices

• Appendix — Byråd debate 23.09.2026
• Appendix — Appendix 1: Budgetary consequences