BLITAR – Local lawmakers in Blitar Regency are stepping into a dispute over plans to build a Village Red and White Cooperative (KDMP) inside the SDN Tegalrejo 01 school complex in Selopuro District.
Members of Commission IV of the Blitar Regency Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) will visit the site on Thursday. They want to review the real conditions on the ground and assess the controversial proposal directly.
Commission IV Chairman Sugeng Suroso said the visit would focus on gathering facts. He stressed that lawmakers would not hold a formal hearing involving multiple institutions.
“We want to see the actual condition at the school,” Sugeng said. “This visit is purely for observation so we can evaluate the issue based on facts.”
The KDMP construction plan has triggered concern among residents and educators. Many fear the project could disrupt activities at a school that still operates normally.
Sugeng questioned why authorities would consider replacing a building that remains in good condition. He urged officials to handle the issue carefully to avoid harming the education sector.
According to him, Commission IV will push for SDN Tegalrejo 01 to remain at its current location. He also highlighted the building’s cultural and architectural value, saying the school still represents an important public asset for the community.
“No one should become a victim because of this plan,” he said. “The school is still in good condition, and the building has artistic value. That is why people are questioning the idea of demolition without a clear foundation.”
He added that lawmakers hope the case can follow the same path as SDN Tlogo 02, another school in the region that authorities ultimately preserved.
Meanwhile, Blitar Regency Education Agency head Agus Santosa explained that the school complex has a long educational history linked to the merger of two elementary schools in the village.
Agus said SDN Tegalrejo 1 and SDN Tegalrejo 2 originally operated as separate schools. However, officials later merged the institutions after SDN Tegalrejo 2 experienced declining student enrollment.
Following the merger, school administrators continued using the former SDN Tegalrejo 2 facilities to support learning activities at SDN Tegalrejo 01. The buildings now function as teachers’ offices, the principal’s office, a school health room, a prayer room, and meeting facilities.
“Administratively, the land belongs to the village government,” Agus said. “However, the buildings still support educational activities. We have already reported the matter to the regent, and now we are waiting for the next policy decision.”
The Education Agency hopes local authorities can find a balanced solution that allows both the KDMP program and educational activities to continue without conflict.
Agus also opened the possibility of postponing the KDMP development plan in Tegalrejo while officials search for a long-term solution.
“There are still many villages that have not implemented the KDMP program yet,” he said. “Because of that, authorities could delay the Tegalrejo project first while discussions continue.”
The controversy has attracted wider public attention in Blitar, especially among residents and education observers who fear the project could disrupt learning activities if officials fail to reach a compromise.