Board members feel left out

Richmond might be on its way to getting new school buildings for the first time in more than a decade, but that seemed like news to the city's School Board last night.

After hearing a brief update on city-sponsored construction -- nine school projects, for which about $150 million is set aside so far -- board member after board member peppered the city's project manager with questions about why they weren't in on the process.

"I can't help but feeling we were out of the loop," said Chairwoman Chandra Smith.

"It's critical we do this well," said member Kim Bridges. "These [schools] need to end up as city centerpieces, not just bricks and mortars."

John Winter, the city's chief capital projects manager, said his department had been working with school administrators for months.

"Quite frankly, I thought we'd been getting [input]," he said.

The problem appeared to be that city and the school system have been working together but without input from the School Board.

Superintendent Yvonne Brandon said she will have members of the school teams -- there's one each for work on new or renovated elementary, middle, high and specialty schools -- report to the board at its next meeting.

The plan, the current version of what began as the "City of the Future" under then-Mayor L. Douglas Wilder, calls for construction of at least six new schools and major renovations of at least three others. It would include new Huguenot High and Elkhardt Middle schools, among others.

Winter said the city administration is leading the way on design and construction because the buildings are designed as community centers in addition to schools.

"They will be open year-round," he said. "They have to be community facilities."

Richmond last opened schools in 1999, when Blackwell, Linwood Holton and Miles Jones elementary schools opened.

Contact Zachary Reid at (804) 775-8179 or .