RPS gets $15 million to update 22 schools

Richmond Public Schools is getting $15.3 million in federal funding to upgrade energy efficiency at 22 schools, Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced this week.

Why it matters: The upgrades will save the school system money and improve the air quality for students in those schools, according to a news release .

The big picture: The money was awarded through the Renew America's Schools Program , a two-year-old initiative designed to create healthier learning environments and cut costs for public schools, according to RPS.

• RPS was one of just 16 districts in the country and the only one in Virginia to get the grant money.
• Alexandria and Nottoway school systems received the grant last year.

Zoom in: Earlier this year, the district released reports that found at least 20 RPS schools had mold — including black mold at a high school — that in some cases was visible in classroom A/C units and HVAC ducts.

• Meanwhile, long overdue HVAC upgrades for some schools have been back-burnered for years due to budget constraints.

Worth noting: Studies show school infrastructure, including air quality, can have a direct impact on student learning outcomes .

What they're saying: "Our students deserve the absolute best. As a Division, we are working each and every day to reverse decades of inequitable funding and disinvestments in urban districts across Virginia," RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras said in a statement.