Richmond Public Schools celebrates construction progress, but still needs help
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- John Marshall High School celebrated progress as construction finished on a wall for the school's courtyard on Monday, Dec. 2. However, the school system as a whole still has a heavy to-do list for additional repairs and it won't be cheap. Richmond Public Schools is trying to figure out how to afford about $40 million worth of immediate repairs. Consultants with Bureau Veritas recently released building assessment reports detailing the needs. "This wall … is a nice-looking wall, here," said student Elijah Charles of the repaired wall. PREVIOUS: Richmond School Board reviews final reports listing nearly $3 million in repairs needed at two schools After months of construction, a now-metal wall borders the school's courtyard. School leaders said it's about making sure students feel safe, protected and overall "good" about the place they go every day. However, the wall is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the school's necessary repairs. "In order for John Marshall to get back up to par, we need about $15 million, so a lot of money needed to be invested in this building," said Monica Murray, the school's principal. "And that's only one of the comprehensive high schools that need work." Zooming out across all Richmond Public Schools, that number is a lot higher. Richmond Public Schools' Chief Operating Officer Dana Fox said that over the next 18 months, the school district needs about $440 million to address immediate repairs. "'Immediate' meaning … we need to do something right now," Fox said. "There are safety issues involved. There might be accessibility issues involved." There's already a lot of change in the works. Miles away over at Richmond High School for the Arts — formerly George Wythe High School — substantial vertical construction can be seen unfolding each day. This rebuild is on track for completion by Fall 2026. And Fox Elementary, another big-name Richmond Public Schools project is still set to re-open next fall. From leaky pipes and deteriorating roofs to HVAC concerns, repair efforts utilize funding already allotted by the City of Richmond. Bureau Veritas' reports found about $7 million worth of repairs needed for the remainder of this year alone. "Year after year, our [Capital Improvement Plan] investment from the city is about $2.5 million, Fox said. According to Fox, the recently released assessments show that this money allocated annually from the city "barely scratches the surface" of what's needed to make a noticeable, long-term, impact on R.P.S. infrastructural integrity. The school system's buildings average about 60 years of age. Fox added that, contrary to assumption-by-many, some of the older, 80-year-old buildings are actually the most structurally sound. Therefore, Bureau Veritas' report was eye-opening in terms of illuminating which areas genuinely need improvement and how severe those changes need to find sources of funding. "This is kind of our cry for help," Fox said. "For folks in with the city and with the state and with the federal government … I think that that needs to be a standard that we have more than $2.5 million. I think $10 million a year would be great in order to really attack some of the things that we need to get under control." Fox explained that, now that the school system knows what needs to be fixed and how much that will cost, the question becomes how to lock in the money. While school officials are working on creating that plan, officials specified that this could include strategies like reaching out to stakeholders on the local, state -- and even federal -- levels and chasing grant opportunities wherever they show up. Murray made it clear that she feels any dollars spent on Richmond Public Schools and its students is money well spent. "When we invest in our children, we are investing in our future -- and every student deserves to walk in a building where they feel safe, they feel protected and they feel good about coming to," Murray said.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- John Marshall High School celebrated progress as construction finished on a wall for the school's courtyard on Monday, Dec. 2. However, the school system as a whole still has a heavy to-do list for additional repairs and it won't be cheap.
Richmond Public Schools is trying to figure out how to afford about $40 million worth of immediate repairs. Consultants with Bureau Veritas recently released building assessment reports detailing the needs.
"This wall … is a nice-looking wall, here," said student Elijah Charles of the repaired wall.
After months of construction, a now-metal wall borders the school's courtyard. School leaders said it's about making sure students feel safe, protected and overall "good" about the place they go every day. However, the wall is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the school's necessary repairs.
"In order for John Marshall to get back up to par, we need about $15 million, so a lot of money needed to be invested in this building," said Monica Murray, the school's principal. "And that's only one of the comprehensive high schools that need work."
Zooming out across all Richmond Public Schools, that number is a lot higher. Richmond Public Schools' Chief Operating Officer Dana Fox said that over the next 18 months, the school district needs about $440 million to address immediate repairs.
"'Immediate' meaning … we need to do something right now," Fox said. "There are safety issues involved. There might be accessibility issues involved."
There's already a lot of change in the works. Miles away over at Richmond High School for the Arts — formerly George Wythe High School — substantial vertical construction can be seen unfolding each day. This rebuild is on track for completion by Fall 2026. And Fox Elementary, another big-name Richmond Public Schools project is still set to re-open next fall.
From leaky pipes and deteriorating roofs to HVAC concerns, repair efforts utilize funding already allotted by the City of Richmond. Bureau Veritas' reports found about $7 million worth of repairs needed for the remainder of this year alone.
"Year after year, our [Capital Improvement Plan] investment from the city is about $2.5 million, Fox said.
According to Fox, the recently released assessments show that this money allocated annually from the city "barely scratches the surface" of what's needed to make a noticeable, long-term, impact on R.P.S. infrastructural integrity. The school system's buildings average about 60 years of age.
Fox added that, contrary to assumption-by-many, some of the older, 80-year-old buildings are actually the most structurally sound. Therefore, Bureau Veritas' report was eye-opening in terms of illuminating which areas genuinely need improvement and how severe those changes need to find sources of funding.
"This is kind of our cry for help," Fox said. "For folks in with the city and with the state and with the federal government … I think that that needs to be a standard that we have more than $2.5 million. I think $10 million a year would be great in order to really attack some of the things that we need to get under control."
Fox explained that, now that the school system knows what needs to be fixed and how much that will cost, the question becomes how to lock in the money. While school officials are working on creating that plan, officials specified that this could include strategies like reaching out to stakeholders on the local, state -- and even federal -- levels and chasing grant opportunities wherever they show up.
Murray made it clear that she feels any dollars spent on Richmond Public Schools and its students is money well spent.
"When we invest in our children, we are investing in our future -- and every student deserves to walk in a building where they feel safe, they feel protected and they feel good about coming to," Murray said.
