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Photos: Inside Fox Elementary School
Officials from Richmond Public Schools gave a brief update Wednesday morning about the rebuild of William Fox Elementary School, before allowing reporters to tour the charred structure.
Photos by Scott Elmquist.
Click here to read Megan Pauly's story.
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Fox Elementary School was severely damaged by a three-alarm fire in February 2022. (Scott Elmquist / VPM News)
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RPS Chief Operating Officer Dana Fox said VAcorp completed a reassessment of property damage at the school in January. She expects the district to receive a payout estimate in March. (Scott Elmquist / VPM News)
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The building has been left exposed to elements for over a year. (Scott Elmquist / VPM News)
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Fox told reporters the shoring, stabilization, demolition and cleaning are “100% complete” and that “substantial” mold growth has been removed from the building. (Scott Elmquist / VPM News)
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A mural in the school’s basement outside what was — and will again become — the school’s cafeteria remains largely intact, but RPS Chief Operating Officer Dana Fox said it will be replaced. There’s also some standing water in the school’s basement. (Scott Elmquist / VPM News)
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School board member Mariah White said she plans to introduce a motion to reserve $15 million of that funding for Fox Elementary, in case the insurance company does not ultimately cover the project’s entire cost. (Scott Elmquist / VPM News)
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Some classroom walls and doors still have remnants of brightly colored paint, though it’s peeling. (Scott Elmquist / VPM News)
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Some of the flooring buckled from water damage and, according to Fox, all of the flooring will need to be replaced. (Scott Elmquist / VPM News)
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Some partially intact chalkboards with scrawled notes remain, as well as hooks for students’ backpacks in the hallway and a “this is an inclusive space” sticker on a window outside the school’s old main office. (Scott Elmquist / VPM News)
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S.B. Cox — the company contracted for the demolition and stabilization work — will also install the roof. (Scott Elmquist / VPM News)
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While most of the first-floor ceiling remains, there’s a gaping hole in the middle of the school where the dome-like cupola fell from the rooftop through the second-story auditorium floor. (Scott Elmquist / VPM News)
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City Councilmember Katherine Jordan, whose district includes the Fan, said $200 million in general obligation bonds will be available in July for school construction needs. (Scott Elmquist / VPM News)
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The firm designing the building, Quinn Evans, has estimated it will cost between $25 million and $27 million — including the roof. (Scott Elmquist / VPM News)
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According to Fox, S.B. Cox is “prepping the tops of the walls” and is removing some of the brickwork to begin putting on roof trusses once they arrive in 4-6 weeks. (Scott Elmquist / VPM News)
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