by Violet Fujimoto ‘27

Superintendent Thomas Taylor sent out an email on January 23 about the facilities and maintenance at Sherwood. The main building of the school was constructed in 1950 and no major repairs have been conducted in decades, leading to an inevitable decline in the building’s upkeep, cleanliness, and safety.Taylor informs Sherwood staff directly about the HVAC system, expressing his frustration and the plan to respond to the issues. Taylor is transparent about the issue and doesn’t sugarcoat the fact that Sherwood is in desperate need of attention. The HVAC system is old, installed over the course of many years. The state of the HVAC system has been reflected in the numerous work orders within the past couple of months. Taylor reassures staff that maintenance teams are doing as much as possible and thanks them for continuing to show up everyday despite the building’s disrepair..

Taylor asserts that MCPS is prioritizing the major concerns to address. Immediate repair and drying of leaks, dehumidifiers, roof evaluations, building maintenance staff, and close monitoring are the current actions being taken. Taylor also discloses that the work has to be carried out within the limits of the Capital Improvement Plan and funding. The project to replace Sherwood’s HVAC system will be done in phases over the next couple of summers and will take several years to fully complete.

Taylor’s letter was sent as in response to an ongoing outcry from parents, students and staff about the state of Sherwood’s facilities and building. On January 20, a letter signed by 71 members of the Sherwood staff was sent to every Board of Education member regarding the health concerns caused by the poor infrastructure and disrepair in the school.The letter notes that reporting by The Warrior and The Washington Post “shows widespread mold, malfunctioning HVAC systems, persistent humidity, and unsafe indoor air conditions across classrooms and hallways.”

During the drafting of the letter in December, additional incidents have raised questions about the maintenance and facilities of the building. Due to a sprinkler malfunction, students and staff were evacuated on Thursday, December 18. It was determined that the broken sprinkler system unit caused a high-pressure water leak, which spread downstairs and flooded at least 12 classrooms on the first floor. Prior to this event, there were two sewage leaks that occurred within the same week. These leaks caused flooding in the lower C-wing hallway and required classes to be moved and that area remained blocked off to complete the necessary repairs. These situations sparked anxiety, especially those who are cognizant of the mold, which has been a major stressor for teachers and parents.

An anonymous MOSH (Maryland Occupational Safety & Health) complaint was filed by a Sherwood staff member on December 29 and the MCPS System Safety Programs Unit received notification on January 5. A MOSH complaint gives MCPS employees the opportunity to report their workplace’s unhealthy environment that may impact students and staff wellbeing. The employee reported that they are being exposed to unsanitary conditions due to the plumbing leaks and asbestos as a result of plumbing work disturbing the ceiling tiles. According to the MOSH complaint, eight plumbing-related leaks occurred due to objects, including feminine hygiene products and electronic cigarettes, causing these incidents. As a response to these incidents, MCPS maintenance department and building service staff completed maintenance work to address the problems.

MCPS has also contacted AMA Analytical Services Inc. to address concerns about the presence of asbestos. They tested building materials that were affected by the fire sprinkler leak, including ceiling tiles. No building materials that were examined were found to contain asbestos, according to the report. Although MCPS has sent a maintenance crew to complete necessary repairs after each incident, there has been little visible improvement in the overall maintenance of the building.

The letter signed by Sherwood staff advocates for the health of students and staff. The letter demands numerous actions to be completed with no delay in order to combat maintenance issues: a thorough Board of Education walkthrough of the building beyond visible repairs; immediate mold remediation and mold-specific testing; HVAC replacement; Sherwood as a priority in the MCPS Capital Improvement (CIP) Plan and, an increase of Building Service staff. This letter also contains comments from staff, describing their experiences with the building.

“Please address this issue. Our building has faced these issues for some time now, and many of us have become deathly ill while working here. We love our students, our community, and care about every single person who is coming in contact with this school,” an anonymous teacher said in the staff letter’s addendum of comments.