A 34-month audit of the Richmond Public Schools’ plant-services department reveals gaps in the school’s safety programs, including training, security codes still active for former employees and noncompliance with state laws on fire drills.
The report, dated July 19 and obtained by Style Weekly, also describes poor conditions at a warehouse used to store furniture, inventory and computer equipment for the schools. Auditors write of a hole in the roof, standing water and a deteriorated floor at the Arlington Road warehouse.
The audit also indicates a lack of safeguards to help prevent abuse of resources, such as inventory controls, ordering procedures and “unrestricted access to lumber supplies” that aren’t inventoried.
Other findings include:
- Cost projections of $727,164 for 45 injury claims by plant services staff and custodians from July 2007 through October 2009. In 20 percent of the injuries, employees weren’t wearing protective equipment, such as safety shoes and eye shields.
- Building access codes for “retired, terminated, or deceased employees” that were still active; no formal procedure to retrieve keys from former workers; and the lack of a building security or access policy from the School Board.
- Only 46 percent of schools completed all fire drills as required during two months in 2009.
- Hours “that appear excessive” for a crew of 10 full-time painters on maintenance jobs. The Chesterfield schools employ four painters and Henrico employs two, each county having more buildings. The report cites an example of two painters who recorded nine hours of labor to stencil “No Parking” in front of a dumpster.
The plant-services department oversees 55 facilities and 21 mobile classrooms, according to the report, and is responsible for such wide-ranging functions as security, tree pruning, custodian training, mail delivery and building maintenance. Its budget in fiscal year 2009 was $15.76 million.
In a memo accompanying the audit, School Superintendent Yvonne Brandon writes that she concurs with the report’s recommendations. The audit, conducted between July 1, 2007, and April 30 of this year indicates that a separate audit will be forthcoming on capital projects.
How often does the Richmond Public School Board invite the public (including teachers) into their “Work Sessions”. I think it would be helpful to invite those that are “in the know” into these meetings and allow them to have a more important role in running the school district. I know that some of the Board members, and administrators, were once teachers too, but unless they are teaching “now” their experience is limited to the “way it was” the world changes to quickly to rely on old experience in education. I know tht much of being on the School Board, is a “power” thing, but if they truly care about the children, they would put their political games aside and ask those that know, to contribute what they know.
Friday, July 30, 2010 9:55:30 AM by STOP THE MADNESS!
This school system should be thoroughly investigated for fraud, theft and malfeasance. Obviously, they are not going to fix themselves. It is utter stupidity for the citizens of Richmond to continue to hand these incompetent people more than a quarter billion dollars a year to waste. This must stop. Richmond's children and taxpayers are being abused by this madness.
Thursday, July 29, 2010 11:30:23 PM by A Teacher Who Knows Why
Glen Allen, ONLY the Superintendent and members of the School Board are required to live in the City of Richmond. There are plenty of Richmond teachers who do not live in the city and who do not send their children to Richmond Public Schools. Someone should ask the teachers who do not send their kids to school in Richmond why the don't. The answers you would receive would frighten even the strongest of souls. Someone should also ask the teachers how they would fix the system. Reform needs to begin on the 17th floor of City Hall.
Thursday, July 29, 2010 9:29:01 PM by Glen Allen
@j jake67 - I agree with you regarding the hiring techniques of RPS. Too many of the administrators, principals, and teachers were born, raised, and educated in Richmond. This does not make them inferior to others educators, but it certainly does not open the doors to diversity in learning. The "Richmond" way is not working, it is time they begin to look outside the broken box and hire from outside the "Richmond" family. I also think they are shooting themselves in the foot by requiring certain administration positions to be filled by those residing in the City of Richmond. There are many good, hardworking, smart, dedicated and conscientious people that chose not to live in the city for a variety of reasons. This requirement is shorting Richmond's children from a chance at a better education.
Thursday, July 29, 2010 6:55:21 PM by Anonymous
House values are decreasing. Our taxes are the highest in the region. Some parents are paying tuition to circumvent RPS. We have a school board which believes that they answer to the Supt. and rubber stamp what is put before them. Nothing will change until the taxpayers and residents of Richmond raise hell.This is our money and we are sitting back and not saying a word. Get Rid of the school Board and the Supt.
Thursday, July 29, 2010 4:09:21 PM by former RPS student
Aside from the brutal facts of the audit, Supt. Brandon should be ashamed she let an audit as full of grammatical, spelling and typographical errors as there are in this one to be released to the Board and to the public.
The School Board should be ashamed. Maybe they just don't know any better.
And they wonder why people leave their school system.
Thursday, July 29, 2010 2:12:04 PM by anonymous
I don't disagree with the alarmed sentiment towards the RPS administration. Reform is still needed.
That said, while I am happy to see this audit in the news, I am wondering if we will ever see a public audit of Center Stage, which has also used millions in tax money.
Thursday, July 29, 2010 11:21:21 AM by jake67
I'm inclined to agree with Weary2 it doesn't seem as though the school board or other leaders are willing or able to get serious about these problems, so it's up to the citizens.
I usually try to defend RPS because the problems they're dealing with are not all of their own creation and there are some bright spots, but every one of these audits reveals serious mismanagement and then we never hear about anything done to correct the situation. I don't know Superintendent Brandon, but it was worrisome to me when they picked an internal candidate in a _national_ search. Not a way to get new blood or a new perspective.
Thursday, July 29, 2010 7:41:47 AM by RPSMom
It all comes back to the Superintendent and the School Board. If the School Board doesn't hold the Superintendent accountable, then there is no hope of improvement. If the citizens of Richmond do not hold the School Board and the Superintendent accountable, then there is no hope.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010 10:20:48 PM by Glen Allen
According to this article, this audit took nearly 3 YEARS to write. Read it, it is full of typographical errors and looks as if it were written by a fifth grader. I would think a school system could hire employees capable of putting together a professional document. Please tell me these auditors are not graduates of Richmond Public Schools!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010 9:40:08 PM by RPSMom
Lazy. Wasteful. Fools. Throw out the Superintendent and the School Board and start over. NOTHING is working right in RPS at the moment. Time to retool, people. Time to retool.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010 7:06:29 PM by Weary2
It would be news if RPS were EVER to manage its finances properly. As it stands now, every audit reveals more and more financial insanity. The real problem, perhaps, isn't RPS it is that the citizens of Richmond don't care enough about making the school system be responsive and accountable. If they did, there would be such a major firestorm of outrage. And, it will take a firestorm of outrage to change this system from a group of amateur politicians and pseudo-professionals into a lean, clean system dedicated to making our children and our city great.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 9:54:05 PM by Fourth Estate Fan
What do they spend $15.76 million on per year? They should consolidate their landscaping and school grounds upkeep to the City. Isn't the city supposed to trim the trees? Technically speaking, the City OWNS all the school buildings. What a freakin' waste of taxpayer money
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 4:52:28 PM by Weary
RPS' motto seems to be "Excuses'RUs." More's the pity that the members of this School Board will continue to accept lame excuses from the Supt. aand her staff. Loyalty and positive thinking are all great and good, but comes a time when people need to fix the problems and stop wasting money. When will you get it right, people?
