Mold. . . Sewage Water . . . Roaches . . . Asbestos and other hazards.  

Sherwood High School is plagued by hazards that jeopardize the health and well-being of everyone within its walls due to years of neglect by the county. 

Persistent mold, aging plumbing, malfunctioning HVAC system, sewage issues, bugs, leaks, broken tiles, bad ventilation, and asbestos are not just inconveniences—they are contributing factors to illnesses that have impacted students, teachers and staff for years. The deterioration of the school's infrastructure is undeniable, especially considering that certain parts of the building have not been improved since the 1950s.  There is a risk of asbestos exposure when the old pipes, tiles and ceiling are exposed for repairs. It is unconscionable for our children and their teachers to spend their days in an environment that poses significant health risks.

Teachers, students and staff at Sherwood High School experience respiratory illnesses while in the building. In fact, twenty-eight IAQ complaint forms were submitted to MCPS last week alone.  A high number of teachers and staff past and present received a cancer diagnosis which has created fear in our community.  Everyone in the lower level of the building endures moldy and sewage smells on a daily basis. Students deal with drastic temperature fluctuations while switching to and from areas of the school that are either unbearably hot or too cold. There is visible mold growing in areas of the school and teachers are equipped with spray bottles that contain bleach because they constantly wipe mold from furniture and teaching materials.  Bathrooms are frequently "out of order".  My daughter spends her morning in a moldy classroom and suffers from a "cold” often.  She also had roaches crawling on her shoe when she used one of the bathrooms. These conditions do not create a healthy, safe and positive environment for learning.

The school has had three sewage backflow issues in the last 10 days.  Classrooms and hallways have been evacuated due to the hazardous sewage water. and foul odors.  Some students reported urine leaking from the ceiling.  Students, Teachers and Staff should not have to walk through sewage to get to their classes.  

Read what some teachers endure: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The school has experienced major floods that caused significant damage including December 2024, 2022 and 2018.  Albeit MCPS is aware of the poor conditions, a renovation of the school is not even on their radar. Aging Sherwood continues to be neglected in the MCPS Capital Improvement Plan. In fact, the recent Facility Condition Assessment report omitted an entire level of the school - the school's lower level and oldest section which needs urgent repairs and mold remediation.  Sherwood is one of the oldest schools in the county and deserves the same attention as Damascus, Magruder and Wootton yet MCPS continues to simply put band-aids on the issues or offers cosmetic solutions to aging infrastructure problems that require a complete replacement and remodel.  It is incomprehensible to me how a school system is fine with their staff and students working and learning in an environment that is making them ill. 

Please sign this petition to demand that MCPS end the neglect of Sherwood High School and provide a healthy and safe environment for our children, teachers and staff.