For the 2026 school year, the Saône-et-Loire Department has made secondary schools one of its top priorities. The departmental majority has emphasized this issue in its political platform, focusing on modernizing, securing, and supporting schools. The department oversees 61 public and private secondary schools, which together serve nearly 24,000 students. For public schools, the Department has allocated a budget of 56 million euros for 2026, with over 450 staff working daily on these efforts. Modernization efforts include adapting schools to climate change, such as naturalizing courtyards, insulating buildings, and improving heating systems. This summer, 3.2 million euros were spent on various projects, including 400,000 euros for water networks in the Digoin school district. The René-Cassin secondary school in Paray-le-Monial is undergoing a 45-month restructuring costing 12.1 million euros, while schools in Saint-Germain-du-Bois and Saint-Marcel are being presented as models of "new generation" secondary schools. A new digital platform, Mon collège 71, is also being introduced to integrate tools like Pronote for families, students, and staff. Security has been a major focus, with 14.8 million euros invested since 2015. This includes video surveillance in 42 schools, sound anti-intrusion alerts in all institutions, and access control systems. Preventive measures, such as the "Firefighters 71 in my secondary school" initiative, aim to increase safety awareness. The department also supports inclusion efforts, such as providing meals at a subsidized cost, covering transport for students with disabilities, and offering specialized classes for students with learning difficulties. Over 13.5 million euros per year is spent on school meals, with families paying significantly less than the actual cost. The majority group, the Union for the Future of Saône-et-Loire, highlighted secondary schools in the September 2026 edition of the Mag' (The news of the Saône-et-Loire Department) under the title "the choice of action and the future." They described the investment as a strategic decision despite financial constraints. Other groups, such as the Left 71 Group and the Autonomous Saône-et-Loire United Group, have focused on climate change and water management, respectively. While there is agreement on the need for investment in schools, the debate continues about the Department's ability to sustain long-term funding for adapting its infrastructure to climate change.