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Operations update: propane and electric buses, district-owned fiber, weapon scanning and comprehensive HVAC study
Summary
Chief of operations Lenny Pritchard briefed the board on fleet diversification (10 more propane buses; 20 electric buses planned for fall), a district-owned fiber project funded by federal/state matching funds, ongoing weapon-scanning protocols, and a Mosley Architects mechanical facility condition assessment to guide long-term HVAC and capital planning.
Henrico County Public Schools presented a broad operations and facilities update at the June 11 work session covering transportation, technology infrastructure, safety programs and a major facilities assessment.
Chief of operations Lenny Pritchard said the division is expanding alternative-fuel transportation with 10 additional propane buses (bringing the propane fleet to 20) and plans to deploy 20 electric buses this fall; the district is coordinating with Dominion Energy and county officials on charging infrastructure at Verona High School and the county CAM facility off Woodman Road. Pritchard said the earlier 10 propane buses have already produced measurable fuel-cost savings.
On technology infrastructure, the division is building its own fiber network to replace leased connectivity; Pritchard said federal and state matching funds fully fund the project at no cost to the division and that total connectivity across buildings is expected by early July. He projected potential annual telecommunications savings of up to $1 million over 20-plus years by owning the fiber.
Pritchard also summarized safety and facility efforts: the weapon-scanning program is in its third year in middle and high schools, and the facilities team completed 73 school safety audits in 2025–26. To address long-term mechanical needs the division engaged Mosley Architects to conduct a comprehensive mechanical facility-condition assessment (FCA) and to recommend a long-term capital improvement plan focused on HVAC and mechanical systems. The FCA did not include schools being rebuilt as part of a 2022 bond program.
Pritchard highlighted facilities scale—243 buildings, roughly 8 million square feet, and about 500 HVAC systems with 8,000 mechanical components—and noted the division completed over 1,500 mechanical work orders in 2025–26, used Saturday work to reduce backlog, and plans an enhanced recruiting and advertising campaign to fill HVAC, electrical and plumbing positions. The division is also preparing an RFP for a facilities-efficiency study to evaluate organizational structure, staffing and work-order processes.
The board thanked Pritchard and praised the operations team's work; he also noted this was his final presentation before retirement.
What happens next: The division will continue deployment of buses and fiber, recruit trades staff, execute the Mosley Architects FCA recommendations and issue the RFP for a facilities-efficiency study; the board and county partners will discuss potential dedicated funding streams for major capital work.
