Education
Henrico County may replace J.R. Tucker High School, house students in former Best Products building during rebuild
The County of Henrico is spending $10,000 to explore the possibility of demolishing the high school in the West End and replacing it with a new $80 million facility instead of making $55 in needed renovations.
From the Richmond Times-Dispatch:
Henrico County is discussing the possibility of replacing J.R. Tucker High School in what’s being viewed as a potentially drastic shift in the county’s approach to upgrading its schools.
In a rare split vote, the Henrico School Board last week approved a $10,872 exploratory study by Moseley Architects to see if the former headquarters building of the defunct retailer Best Products at Interstate 95 and East Parham Road could be used by Tucker students while the campus-style school is replaced. A Tucker High School renovation is estimated to be $55 million and a new school would likely cost $80 million.
Board member John Montgomery of the Varina District was the sole vote against the study. He peppered Assistant Superintendent Al Ciarochi with questions on why the office property was available now and not during the $37.2 million Henrico High School renovation that was completed in 2016 and why there weren’t any feasibility studies done for Varina High School, which completed a $28 million renovation in 2011.
