‘They could taste the building’: Teacher sounds alarm about mold, asbestos at Richmond’s Redd Elementary

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A Richmond Public Schools (RPS) teacher is sounding the alarm about instances of mold and asbestos at Redd Elementary, saying years of neglect have put students and staff at risk.

Math coach Susan Hudgins shared photos of what appeared to be black mold on a library wall on Monday, Aug. 18 -- the same day students returned to class for the 2025-26 school year.

“It was shocking to me -- I’ve never seen so much mold in my entire life,” Hudgins said.

RPS said the mold has been taken care of. However, it wasn't the first time.

Hudgins said she repeatedly emailed superintendent Jason Kamras this summer, asking for an air quality report indicating that the building was safe after finding mold in the auditorium herself in July.

Mold at Redd Elementary. (Photos: Susan Hudgins)

A letter telling staff, students and families that the building is safe was sent out on Aug. 15, with the report released the day before.

Although it was sent to staff before students returned, Hudgins said some teachers had already been working inside the building for the week.

“People are like, 'Oh, I’m sitting in my car.' 'My eyes hurt, sneezing, coughing.' 'I had to go home and take my inhaler,'" Hudgins said. "Somebody described the building as they could taste the building,” she said.

Kamras said the latest report shows the school is safe.

“The air quality report from Redd is safe for occupancy. We wouldn’t have teachers or kids in there if it wasn’t,” he said. “The one area that still has some issues is the auditorium. I was over there today. It’s completely closed off, sealed, and it’s being remediated.”

He acknowledged the district’s facilities department has been short-staffed in recent years.

Hudgins said that has left her taking on responsibilities she never expected.

“My part at school was the teacher, and now I’m the coach. I didn’t think I needed to be the maintenance person and the federal guideline person,” she said.

An air quality report released in February 2024 confirmed asbestos in the building and outlined an action plan.

Federal guidelines say school districts are to "re-inspect asbestos-containing material in each school every three years." It should be documented and kept in a log within each school.

Hudgins said she found that the last report documented was from 2009.

“They have in writing that they have the big gap," she said. "The most recent inspection report [was] prepared by ECS in 2009. You haven’t checked it for 15 years?!”

8News will continue to examine why the 15-year lapse occurred and what it could mean for students and staff.