RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Richmond Public Schools (RPS) is getting $15.3 million to upgrade heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in 22 schools across the city.
The federal funds were secured by the school district to help them install new systems at 22 Richmond schools. RPS is one of only 16 districts across the country to receive this money and the only one in Virginia.
According to the district, the upgrades will also decrease energy costs. Anne Forrester, a Richmond teacher and Richmond Education Association Vice President, believes this grant will make a big difference for the school district’s students and faculty.
“This is like a much deeper and longer-standing issue. And so, I think these types of federal grants are really helpful to kind of deal with this in a much more systemic and long-term way,” Forrester said.
An RPS spokesperson said list of schools that will get new HVAC systems and a construction timeline are still being finalized.
Forrester said that receiving this money will be a step in the right direction, but Richmond’s schools still need a lot of help beyond just the HVAC systems.