Barack Obama Elementary Shuts Down Over Mold and Rodents. The Symbolism Is Too Perfect.

Richmond Public Schools has shut down Barack Obama Elementary School indefinitely after inspectors and district officials confirmed mold has spread throughout the building, just as the school year was set to begin. Rodents reportedly have shown up, too. Richmond Public Schools chief operations officer Patrick Herrel told everyone in the building to leave Monday, and the district announced the closure that same day. Parents and staff who had been inside described mold creeping across the school, including on laptops that had been sitting in storage all summer.(snip) Richmond Public Schools scheduled a town hall on the closure for 5:30 p.m....