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Henrico teachers tell school board auditoriums need urgent repairs; staff say district will follow up
Summary
A drama teacher told the Henrico County School Board that auditorium lighting, sound and electrical systems are failing and sometimes unsafe, describing repeated requests to facilities staff and limited responses; the board heard the public comment but took no formal action.
Tom Harris, a drama teacher at Shore Pump Middle School, told the Henrico County School Board on Dec. 18 that maintenance problems in the division's performance spaces are long-standing and, in some cases, unsafe. "These systems are incapable of functioning as intended, with some becoming more unsafe," Harris said, describing repeated work orders and a series of unanswered emails to facilities staff and administrators.
Harris said he first assessed the space six years ago and that auditorium problems have intensified. He told the board that theater teachers compiled a spreadsheet of needs, met with county administrators in the summers of 2024 and 2025, and requested outside vendors after county electricians could not deliver lasting solutions. He recounted e-mails sent Feb. 12, Nov. 4 and a follow-up on Dec. 3 that included requests to the chief of operations, and said, "With the exception of my principal, I have received no communication from any of the recipients."
The comment came during the public forum segment of the board meeting; board members did not respond to the speaker during the session, and no formal motion or vote followed. Madam Chair said district staff would follow up with speakers after the meeting. The comment notes a gap between school-level needs raised by teachers and the district's response process.
Why it matters: auditorium and stage systems affect arts education, student performances and community events. Harris emphasized that the technical deficits hinder student learning and professional instruction and that educators have offered their own expertise to help address functionality and safety issues.
What Harris asked for: Harris asked the board to consider contracting vendors when county electricians cannot fully resolve lighting and electrical problems, to engage theater educators in planning repairs, and to provide clearer communications to school-level staff about work-order status.
District response and next steps: The board did not debate or vote on facilities funding or contracts at the Dec. 18 meeting. Madam Chair said Henrico staff members would follow up with speakers. No timeline, budget figures or vendor contracts were provided in the meeting record.
The board approved the evening agenda and later adopted a consent agenda of routine items; the meeting included student performances and other highlights and adjourned with the next meeting scheduled for Jan. 8, 2026.
