Hurdles remain as the opening of Richmond’s first public charter school nears. Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts, set to open in July, still needs to reach compliance with the American with Disabilities Act and solve transportation problems, Richmond School Board members pointed out last night. “It seems to me, this is late in the process to be talking about how to transport the students,“ said Kimberly B. Gray, vice chairwoman of the School Board. “It is critical to make sure all of our programs . . . are accessible to all children.“

No one anticipates a fleet of moving vans rolling up again on City Hall at nightfall. Still, the relationship between Mayor Dwight C. Jones and the Richmond School Board has taken a turn for the Wilder. Jones recently unveiled an aggressive school-construc tion plan that calls for an $81 million replacement for Huguenot High School, as well as money for two elementary schools and a middle school.

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones unveiled an aggressive plan to build four schools in the city by 2014 and start construction on the first in a little over a year. Jones identified replacing Huguenot High School as a priority during a meeting last night with the Richmond School Board. “I really have a desire, or want to suggest, building a high school in the first phase,“ Jones said. “We have not built a high school in about 40 years. I can say without fear, Huguenot definitely needs to be replaced.“

Alice Reid Calloway was a reserved, soft-spoken woman. At the same time, she had no trouble standing up in opposition of injustice. “At times, when it was necessary, she was assertive in a way that commanded your attention,“ said longtime friend Thomasina T. Binga. “When she felt very strongly about an issue, she certainly could address it with aplomb.“

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.

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.

The theft of almost $15,000 from a grant-funded literacy program and the possible misappropriation of an additional $10,000 spent on bus passes were the key findings of an audit of the school system’s grants-management program, according to a preliminary report released yesterday by Richmond’s auditor. A former employee of the Richmond school system pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing the $15,000. She faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced Oct. 13.

A Richmond school employee was overpaid by about $2,000 based on records falsified by his supervisor, with whom he had a personal relationship and later married, according to a report released yesterday by the city auditor. In a letter dated Monday, the auditor, Umesh Dalal, told School Superintendent Yvonne W. Brandon that his investigation found “a conflict of interest, falsification of records and abuse of [Richmond Public Schools’] resources.“

The Richmond School Board voted last night to make surplus one of its more desirable properties. On a unanimous vote, the board began the process of giving up its rights to the old Westhampton School and grounds. The two-building facility—the brick schoolhouses, built in 1916 and 1930, are connected with an enclosed ramp built in 1949—and 6½-plus-acre grounds house Richmond Community High School through today. The property at Libbie and Patterson avenues is assessed at nearly $7.6 million.

A gag order on Richmond School Board members turned out to be a short-lived affair. Three weeks after going into effect, the policy was scrapped. In mid-March, the School Board unanimously passed the “Communications Protocol and Governance Team Standards of Practice” recommended by Superintendent Yvonne W. Brandon. On Monday, the same board - minus one absent member - voted 7-1 to rescind the policy.

School Board OKs budget The plan for Richmond’s schools is $8 million less than this year’s budget The Richmond School Board approved Superintendent Yvonne W. Brandon’s proposed $261.7 million budget for the next fiscal year on a 6-2-1 vote last night. The budget, about $8 million less than this year’s, now goes to Mayor Dwight C. Jones, who will present his budget to the City Council on March 27. The School Board was scheduled to vote on its budget a month ago but put off making a decision after the City Council allowed Jones additional time to work on his budget.

With economic-stimulus money on the way, the budget process for the Richmond school system got a little easier yesterday. A windfall from the federal government, plus a slight, unanticipated bump in state funding, means that the city’s schools are about $7.8 million short on funding, not the $16 million originally thought. The proposed 2009-10 budget now stands at $261.7 million, down from the current year’s $269.6 million.

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced today that he’s dropping the appeals of two lawsuits brought by then-Mayor L. Douglas Wilder to try to establish broad authority for the mayor.

Richmond school officials say today they’ll recommend moving Community High School from its West End campus to the Chandler Middle School building in North Richmond.

The Richmond School Board voted unanimously last night to close Chandler Middle School at the end of this school year. The decision, although expected by most, was a disappointment to Brenda Barton and her daughter, Etta, a seventh-grader who will have to switch schools next fall.