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55V35lM t1_j6au6n7 wrote

Reply to comment by Loose-Violinist-1103 in Should Virginia help pay to rebuild Fox Elementary? What happens if lawmakers say 'no'? by CrassostreaVirginica

Ahh, the fire alarm, which should have both notified the RFD and indicated where in the building the alarm was triggered but did neither owing known maintenance issues was not the primary contributing cause but it’s the fault of the nonexistent sprinklers - which would have likely failed anyway due to… lack of maintenance.

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Loose-Violinist-1103 t1_j6avruz wrote

Look, blame who you want. I believe the facilities director was negligent. I also believe RPS cannot fix schools with money they don’t have, and cannot raise themselves. Bills to address the systemic problem are making progress at the state level because Rural republicans and urban democrats agree. I won’t be losing sleep because you and I don’t.

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55V35lM t1_j6bttis wrote

Well stated - I just don’t trust the those who would allocate such funds to do so efficiently. RPS’s current budget proposed by the superintendent largely goes to paying non-teachers - not teachers or capital improvements.

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Loose-Violinist-1103 t1_j6cxw7o wrote

I’m not following. Should there be more money going to teachers or more money to CIP? And what non-teachers should RPS cut? Procedurally, yes, the superintendent drafts the first budget. But it’s very much shaped by board mandates made over the last year like collective bargaining ($24M), and a 30-staff virtual school ($3M). Also expenses that feel like luxuries now - school renamings and tuition to specialty schools.

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Freseper t1_j6brp1a wrote

Months before this happened a certain alarm company that was part of this story but no longer exists upgraded the burglar alarm at work. They asked if they could have the remains of the old system because it was still in use in many RPS schools— and basically only there— and the parts were impossible to obtain.

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