When making remarks about the new Richmond High School of the Arts last Saturday, Jason Kamras’ words were noticeably cheerful and upbeat.

“The first sign that kids have about whether we, the adults, love them is what their building looks like,” said Mr. Kamras, Richmond Public Schools superintendent for nearly six years. “And for far too long this building has not been giving off vibes of love. But that changes today.”

Indeed, the new high school, which will re-place George Wythe High School in name and aesthetics, initially was planned five years ago and officially announced in 2020, has had its share of fits and starts.

Two students were shot in a nearby parking lot of the current high school located at 4314 Crutchfield St. in April.

The sudden death of the school’s beloved principal occurred just before the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year.

Seemingly overlooked and treated like a stepchild when Fox Elementary School caught fire in early 2022. Rebuilding Fox, located in a more well-heeled neighborhood, appeared to get far more attention than George Wythe, which is listed among the school facilities in the worst condition.

In its early inception, the new high school also was beset with disagreements over budgets and funding.

All of those challenges should change with the official groundbreaking of the new Richmond High School of the Arts. With 2026 its estimated completion date, the new school will cost $154.6 million and house 1,800 students, the Richmond Free Press reported in February.

Design plans include band rooms, a black box theater, a dance studio, art rooms, a podcast studio and an orchestra. Classrooms will be built for careers in business, fashion, graphic design and technology.

While the current school will be demolished entirely once Richmond High is occupied, school officials stressed that the colors, mascot and spirit of George Wythe would live on.

“Today is the first day of the rest of our kids’ lives,”George Wythe Principal Kevin Olds said. “The rich traditions of George Wythe High School will not be lost — it will be built upon, it will be embraced, it will be nourished with structure, discipline and support along the way.”

For Judy Farmer Scott, a 1974 George Wythe graduate who attended the event with her sister, Clara, the changes set to come were welcome, long overdue, and could bear fruit not just for its students but Richmond as a whole.

“They’re building state-of-the-art schools around the country, and George Wythe should have had one 30 years ago,” Ms. Scott said. “Regardless of the name, regardless of the innovations, hopefully it will be (an) enhancement for everyone in the whole community.”

George Wythe alumna Tisha Erby, a leader of the Wythe Can’t Wait group, which called for solutions to address the state of the school, shared Ms. Scott’s enthusiasm.

Wearing a yellow hard hat, red George Wythe Bulldogs shirt and cradling her daugh- ter, Blessn, she was happy to learn about the forthcoming academic programs.

“This school is going to be for the arts, so we’re going to have a lot of art things — dance, theater,” Ms. Erby said. “It’s been a long time coming.”