Richmond Public Schools Director of Facilities and Custodial Services Ronald “Bobby” Hathaway has been fired, according to a division spokesperson. 

The dismissal follows an investigation into alleged improprieties in spending school district money and personal use of RPS property. The allegations were first reported by the Richmond Times-Dispatch. 

Hathaway, who has worked for the division for more than 10 years, allegedly both made and approved purchases using an RPS credit card, and used equipment outside of schools. It is unclear exactly how much money was spent and over how long a period of time it took place. 

Hathaway was first placed on administrative leave in February, sources told The Richmonder. 

The Times-Dispatch reported that Hathaway allegedly conspired with two subordinates to turn off security cameras so he could return school equipment without detection after the investigation began. Both employees have been placed on administrative leave as well.

RPS spokesperson Alyssa Schwenk said the division does not comment on personnel matters. 

Hathaway previously was critiqued for his role leading up to a 2022 fire at Fox Elementary School. In the months before the fire, a Richmond Fire Department official accused him of “extreme neglect” over annual inspections of the district’s schools.

Budget implications

Hathaway’s firing comes at a time when the division has proposed numerous cuts to its budget, including the removal of 46 central office positions and the closing of Richmond Virtual Academy. 

City Councilors recently worked to find extra funds to save the academy, but ultimately were unable to do so. The budget will be finalized later this month, putting the ball back into the Richmond School Board’s court to decide if it will work to find funds to keep the virtual school running. 

The district has been without an auditor since May of last year, and a new hire began work this week in the role. During this year’s budget process, City Council raised questions about financial oversight in the division.

The matter is the latest allegation of mishandled funds within the school division. 

In 2024, former auditor Doug Graeff revealed that the division was misusing its credit cards under the p-card program. He also found that bus drivers were being paid two hours overtime for after-school runs, even if they did not work the full 40 hours that week, or if the run was less than two hours. 

The next regularly scheduled School Board meeting will take place in May, and School Board members are expected to receive a report on the investigation at that time.

Contact Reporter Victoria A. Ifatusin at vifatusin@richmonder.org