Richmond Students Head Back to School in Deteriorating Buildings

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -

While students in Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover are heading back to class today for the first day of school. However, some students in Richmond Public Schools will be returning to buildings in desperate need of repairs.

The city's public schools need at least $35 million in repairs.

School leaders have said major maintenance projects like replacing HVAC systems and crumbling buildings can't wait any longer.

"I've got grandmothers calling me begging that their grandchild doesn't get put in a basement because they have asthma and we have mold issues," says School Board member, Kim Gray. "We have sewage issues, we have HVAC and boiler issues that we have to address right now."

The biggest problem they found were the failing HVAC systems. Repairs and replacements for those systems alone are slated at $20 million.

Another $7.5 million is needed for roofs and more than $4 million are needed for basic life, health and safety improvements.

"Many, if not most, of these issues were present in reports dating as far back as 2002," Mayor Jones said at a news conference Monday. "It's clear that the neglect that is now being focused on is neglect that did not happen overnight, and it won't be fixed overnight."

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Richmond Students Head Back to School in Deteriorating Buildings