Idk about exceptions. But this was the explanation for staying within the existing footprint.

I’m not following. Should there be more money going to teachers or more money to CIP? And what non-teachers should RPS cut? Procedurally, yes, the superintendent drafts the first budget. But it’s very much shaped by board mandates made over the last year like collective bargaining ($24M), and a 30-staff virtual school ($3M). Also expenses that feel like luxuries now - school renamings and tuition to specialty schools.

Look, blame who you want. I believe the facilities director was negligent. I also believe RPS cannot fix schools with money they don’t have, and cannot raise themselves. Bills to address the systemic problem are making progress at the state level because Rural republicans and urban democrats agree. I won’t be losing sleep because you and I don’t.

I said this is state wide - most of these schools were build 50 years before our peer in the countries. There’s a $26B statewide need to repair or replace Virginia schools. It’s a current issue in the GA. This isn’t just RPS. Rps is just further in the hole than most. Bristol is rough too.

And no - were not here because of fire alarms. That was obviously bad - but it didn’t prevent RFD from getting to fox BEFORE it was in flames. They cleared the building and LEFT.

We’re here because there are some 50 schools in RPS and too many of them (fox included) haven’t been retrofitted for sprinklers because that costs about $40k per school and we don’t have that money.

The Board voted to demolish Elkhardt Thompson (forest hill Ave) in 2020 because its poor condition is “unfit for use.”

90% of the RPS budget is for desperately needed staff. We have $9.5M in CIP funds in the current draft budget. At that rate of annual investment we’ll make it through all $2B of deferred maintenance in 210 years.

That’s not because of a couple of decades worth of a shitty facilities director who should have been fired a long time ago. That’s because school funding is systemically broken and schools have no way to afford their maintenance or replacement.

The one condemned for mold? That sent those kids to Clark springs in the first place? I’m not going to pretend like I’m at all impressed with the rps maintenance/facilities dept now or over the last ..60? Years. But do read up on the findings from the school modernization committee. We can’t blame RPS for the effects of the Dillon rule.

https://www.virginiamercury.com/2022/02/03/if-it-wont-help-the-legislature-should-get-out-of-the-way-on-school-construction/

If they sell Clark springs (which was proposed July 2021) they won’t have a place for students to go for the next crisis. It’s been used as a flex space for multiple schools when their facilities have failed. In the last 5 years it’s housed students from… I want to say George Mason Elementary? When they had a gas leak. And when a southside middle school closed for mold the kids went there. We can sadly expect more failed facilities as these schools are rapidly decaying with so little $ assigned to fix them each year. Statewide problem ($26.5B need) that’s hitting RPS first because it has a disproportionate number of 50-100 year old properties.

Folks also seem to be pretty excited about the modified floor plan. Adding an orchestra room and moving art upstairs. Study rooms.

https://preview.redd.it/tfoex32wmwea1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=3c17e8e7e84dbf8531f9404bd3b597247d22ae55

They can’t do this. They could tear it down and sell the land, but they’d need to meet all current city and VDOE reqs for things like parking and outdoor space. Quick glance here says elementary schools need a minimum of 5 acres. Fox has 2.9

https://preview.redd.it/enyu287qkwea1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=5f6ffa06fa9c04124a42cca887cb7c3490fc005d

https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/GetFile.cfm?File=C:%5CTownHall%5Cdocroot%5CGuidanceDocs_Proposed%5C201%5CGDoc_DOE_4731_20210208.pdf