Superintendent apologizes for air conditioning problems at Henrico schools

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. — Henrico County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Amy Cashwell is apologizing to families for months of HVAC failures across the district and outlining a series of steps she says will fundamentally change how the school system maintains its buildings.

"Please know that I am sorry," Cashwell said in video message posted Thursday morning.

Cashwell acknowledged the frustration families have felt throughout the school year, which has seen early dismissals at Harvie Elementary School and an emergency closure of Short Pump Middle School due to heat-related issues. Officials have previously stated that up to 15 schools in the district have air conditioning problems on any given day.

"When a classroom, a hallway or a larger area in a school is warmer than it should be or when a repair takes longer than expected, it is frustrating," Cashwell said.

The superintendent attributed some of the ongoing repair delays to a $92 million backlog in deferred maintenance needs across the district. As a short-term fix, the district has installed portable air conditioning units in classrooms and commercial-sized rental chillers to provide immediate relief while major repairs are completed.

Cashwell said the district is now taking several steps to address the problem long-term, including leveraging joint contracts to bring on additional vendors for quicker repairs, adding 5 new positions to its technical workforce — which it is actively recruiting for — and adopting quarterly checks of critical systems.

Watch: Up to 15 Henrico schools face cooling issues daily

"We are making a fundamental shift from reactive maintenance to more protective care," Cashwell said. "Every school's HVAC system will undergo a comprehensive assessment and preventive servicing four times a year. This regular quarterly maintenance will help us catch potential issues before they lead to major breakdowns."

Cashwell said overhauls in how mechanical issues are logged, reviewed, and completed — along with improvements in communication — will soon become the norm.

"We will do everything possible to ensure the reliability of our mechanical systems and the comfort of our students and staff. That is my commitment to you," Cashwell said.

But for some parents, the apology and promises come after months of feeling ignored.

David Chenault, a parent at Ruby Carver Elementary, said hundreds of emails went unanswered by district leadership.

"There were hundreds of emails that went ignored by the upper staff and ultimately the buck has to fall on someone," Chenault said.

WATCH: Henrico touts HVAC progress, but families at school say temps still unbearable

Chenault said his experience has left him skeptical that upper management will follow through.

"I work at a local hospital. We do that every day and our management ensures that it's done every day because we know that these checks are coming, we are going to have inspections. So, why wasn't it done?" Chenault said.

He said accountability needs to start at the top.

"Making sure the people at the top are doing their job," Chenault said.

Cynthia Williams-Bey, a parent at Quioccasin Middle School, said Thursday's update is what parents have been asking for since the school year began.

"I'm just looking forward to them continuing to do their best to make sure our kids are in a safe environment," Williams-Bey said.

She said she wants to see the district hold itself and its contractors accountable going forward.

"As they're putting the new strategies in place, they are holding themselves accountable and companies accountable to ensure that they're maintaining the properties and the HVAC system," she said.

Williams-Bey said she is cautiously optimistic.

"It's going to take some time, but I see that they're headed in the right direction," Williams-Bey said.

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