Mold closes Richmond’s Obama Elementary; contractor report recommends replacing materials

Mold that shut down Richmond’s Barack Obama Elementary School at the start of the school year has prompted recommendations to remove and replace building materials, according to a contractor’s report obtained by WTVR.

The contractor said the school’s HVAC and moist pipes caused the mold. The assessment identified a broader pattern of moisture intrusion, leaks, water-damaged materials and areas where moisture could remain hidden.

WTVR’s records request included the contractor’s room-by-room assessment, prior work orders, information about leaks and the HVAC system, and remediation recommendations. Priority repair areas included areas affected by active plumbing leaks and roof leaks.

Students returned to school after nine days.

WTVR questioned Richmond Public Schools about the work-order descriptions and whether repairs had been completed. RPS said many of the underlying issues have since been addressed and that it is adding ongoing monitoring.

The city of Richmond is one of 47 localities seeking voter approval in November to collect a 1% sales tax for school construction and modernization to address aging facilities. Obama Elementary, formerly J.E.B. Stuart, opened in 1922.

Source: Virginia Mercury

Email the Richmond City Council:
Andrew Breton, andrew.breton@rva.gov,
Katherine Jordan, katherine.jordan@rva.gov,
Kenya Gibson, kenya.gibson@rva.gov,
Sarah Abubaker, sarah.abubaker@rva.gov,
Stephanie Lynch, stephanie.lynch@rva.gov,
Ellen Robertson, ellen.robertson@rva.gov,
Cynthia Newbille, cynthia.newbille@rva.gov,
Reva Trammell, reva.trammell@rva.gov,
Nicole Jones, nicole.jones@rva.gov,

Email the Richmond School Board:
Matthew Percival, mpercival@rvaschools.net,
Kathryn Ricard, kricard@rvaschools.net,
Ali Faruk, afaruk@rvaschools.net,
Wesley Hedgepeth, whedgepeth@rvaschools.net,
Stephanie Rizzi, srizzi@rvaschools.net,
Anne Holton, aholton@rvaschools.net,
Cheryl Burke, cburke2@rvaschools.net,
Emmett Jafari, ejafari@rvaschools.net,
Shavonda Fernandez, sdixon@rvaschools.net,

Richmond is an independent city in the Richmond region.