Construction of a new George Wythe High School is still in limbo as the Richmond School Board needs to work out some design decisions for the request for proposal, or RFP, in order to move the construction process forward.

The Richmond Public Schools administration is preparing to issue an RFP for design services by Aug. 31, for a building that will hold 1,600 students.

Superintendent Jason Kamras has projected that that by time the school opens, the South Side school will have an student enrollment of 2,000.

At Monday night’s School Board meeting, Mr. Kamras presented several questions from the administration as guidance for the board in developing the RFP. He asked whether the design should be from an existing school, such as the new River City Middle School, or whether the design process should start from scratch.

He also asked what level of LEED certification for energy and environmental design the board wants in a new high school, and whether the school should be designed based on what theme it may have for the curriculum, such as science and math or visual and performing arts.

Mr. Kamras also asked if the board wants the building to include space for community amenities, such as a health clinic, community library or social services center.

The board provided no answers Monday night.

The board has said it will create a panel of RPS and City of Richmond employees to review and score the design submissions.

During the board’s lengthy discussion on the RFP, board member Mariah L. White, 2nd District, asked if Mr. Kamras’ questions could be answered by using the city’s RFP for George Wythe, which had a response deadline of Aug. 2.

Board member Stephanie M. Rizzi, 5th District, supported Ms. White’s inquiry.

This was followed by board Chair Cheryl L. Burke, 7th District, making a motion for the school district to accept the City of Richmond’s offer to work with the School Board on an RFP for a new George Wythe. But on a 5-4 vote, Ms. Burke’s motion was shot down.

In response to the board’s rejection again of collaboration with the city, Mayor Levar M. Stoney replied during a news conference on Tuesday morning.

“Normally when the city and RPS work together, we get a result like no other for our children,” Mayor Stoney said, noting his continued disappointment, especially with five School Board members who consistently have blocked efforts to work jointly with the city.

He was referring to Ms. White; Ms. Rizzi; board Vice Chair Jonathan Young, 5th District; Kenya J. Gibson, 3rd District; and Shonda Harris-Muhammed, 6th District.

“For our children not to be in George Wythe until 2027, or who knows when, is a miscarriage of governance. The parents and students are the victims,” the mayor said.

Mayor Stoney noted that he was glad some companies submitted design proposals to the city earlier this week. However, he said his disappointment centers on the knowledge that the School Board would spend more taxpayer money replicating the process rather than coming to the table to collaborate.

During a news conference Monday morning and during the public comment period at the School Board meeting Monday evening, James E. “J.J.” Minor III, president of the Richmond Branch NAACP, expressed dismay about the board’s disregard of the city’s offer of collaboration and continually dragging its feet on the school project.

“Wythe can’t wait and our kids can’t wait, but a majority of the School Board thinks otherwise,” Mr. Minor said. “They seem to believe that Black and brown students who have tried to learn in rat-infested, mold-filled schools can wait.”

He said the School Board “has picked an unnecessary fight with the city around the construction of a new George Wythe and unknowingly delayed, again, a new school for our South Side students. The community does not care who builds the school and has asked for compromise, only to be met with resistance.”

Standing in solidarity with Mr. Minor at the news conference and the School Board meeting were the Rev. Robin Mines, a 1976 graduate of George Wythe High School, and Tisha Erby, an RPS parent and George Wythe graduate. They said the community’s concerns have consistently been ignored.

Mr. Minor said if the School Board continues on this path, the NAACP is prepared to ask the Virginia Department of Education to intervene, to file a lawsuit against the School Board, and if necessary, seek a recall of the board members who are “putting Richmond at risk.”

In other matters, the board approved plans to spend the $123 million RPS is to receive from the American Rescue Plan.

Per Mr. Kamras’ proposal, $29 million will be used for personnel, $10 million for training, $7 million for resources and $19 million for extended day partnerships where students will have the opportunity to participate in after-school activities at no or little cost to parents.

Mr. Kamras said the School Board has until Sept. 1 to submit the spending plan to the state in order to receive funding on time. He proposed that the previous federal stimulus money, totaling $58 million, be spent over three years.

The board also approved a change in school start times for city high schools. Beginning in September, high school students will start their day 15 minutes earlier, at 9 a.m., and will be dismissed at 3:45 p.m. instead of 4 p.m.

Other school schedules will remain unchanged. Elementary schools’ hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. However, for transportation reasons, a few elementary schools will follow the middle school schedule of classes from 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.