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Barack Obama Elementary

Home of the Obama Stars

PM Update

Posted Date: 08/26/26 (04:52 PM)
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Good evening, Obama Community,

Please see below for this evening’s updates.

Facility Updates:

  • We remain on schedule to complete deep cleaning and remediation of the entire top floor and half of the middle floor by the end of today (Wednesday, August 27).

  • Air quality testing began today in the areas that were remediated yesterday (including the auditorium and room 104 in the basement). Test results are pending.

  • We are continuing to use the AC system, dehumidifiers, negative ion scrubbers, and antibacterial fogging throughout the building. Relative humidity remains in a healthy range of 39%–56%.

  • A planned follow-up exterminator visit was completed late this morning as part of the standard practice to ensure the initial treatment was effective.

Pine Camp Updates:

For students attending Pine Camp Arts & Community Center starting Thursday, August 27:

  • Morning Bus Routes: Students will use their existing Obama bus stops (view bus routes here). Please note: K-2 parents must accompany their student to the bus in the morning. A member from the RPS Care & Safety Team will be onsite.

  • Neighborhood Walkers: A dedicated bus pickup will occur at Obama Elementary School at 7:30 am for neighborhood walkers riding to Pine Camp.

  • Afternoon Dismissal: Buses will depart Pine Camp at 2:40 pm. The drop-off for walkers at Obama Elementary is scheduled for 2:45 pm, with all other students returning via their normal bus route. Please note: K-2 parents must be at the bus stop in the afternoon to meet their student for pick up. A member from the RPS Care & Safety Team will be onsite.

  • Extended Stay Pickup: Families keeping students at Pine Camp until 5:00 pm are responsible for arranging their own student pickup.

Enrollment Updates

  • A limited number of seats in select grade levels are available at McClenney Elementary School and Overby-Sheppard Elementary School via a randomized selection process. If interested, please submit the interest form by 11:59 pm (Wednesday, August 26 - today).

  • Students who transfer may stay at their new school for the rest of the school year or until Barack Obama Elementary School reopens safely. Transportation will be provided to all students selected to attend a neighboring school.

  • Families will be notified of placement status via email by 12:00 pm tomorrow (Thursday, August 27). Transferred students will begin at their new school on Monday, August 31.

    • Please do not contact schools to attempt to transfer students outside of the above process. 

Community Questions:

  • Will Pine Camp be treated differently from a regular school day for attendance purposes? Specifically, if a parent chooses not to send their child, would that be considered an absence?

    • Attendance is not mandatory, and will not count against your scholar if they do not attend. 

  • Do we have any updates on the condition of the library, including an estimate of how much may have been damaged or lost?

    • Very little in the Media Center had to be discarded. Items and surfaces were successfully wiped down, and the area previously received a clear air quality test (re-testing will occur during final whole-building verification).

  • Do we know yet whether all student laptops need to be replaced, and do we have a confirmed count of how many devices were affected?

    • All student laptops are being replaced. We will be ready for distribution when we return to the Obama building.

  • Has there been any discussion or planning for how the missed instructional time will be addressed or made up?

    • We will be offering optional after-school learning opportunities for students once they return to the building. Attending these sessions will not be required, however, as the annual number of RPS instructional hours far exceeds that required by the state. Families of students with disabilities will be provided compensatory services at the frequency and duration outlined in their student's IEP upon return to school.

  • Where will the monthly mold reports be published for parents to access?

    • RPS will be utilizing ParentSquare for sharing the monthly reports.

Thank you for your ongoing patience and understanding as we work to safely get back into the Obama building. 

Best,

Jason