Sherwood High School in Montgomery County closed Friday after a malfunctioning sprinkler caused a water leak and damage on the second floor, according to a letter from a district official.
Montgomery County Public Schools chief of operations Adnan Mamoon wrote that water also caused damage on the first floor of the high school in Sandy Spring, Maryland, and affected about 12 classrooms. School system administrators closed the high school Friday to focus on repairs, in hopes of reopening Monday.
“We recognize how disruptive this is to students, families, and staff who now need to adjust plans, schedules, and routines,” Mamoon wrote Thursday to families and staff. “This unexpected situation requires immediate attention and the most expedient way to fix the issues is to close the building and allow crews full access to move quickly to fix the damage.”
Video reviewed by The Washington Post shows staff members treading through puddles of water Thursday. Other footage shows water trickling through a ceiling.
Mamoon wrote that the broken sprinkler has already been fixed, but replacing ceiling tiles and removing other damaged materials would take time — probably through the weekend. He said he would provide another update on the building’s status Sunday.
Sherwood’s closure Friday comes after parents and staff at the school raised concerns in recent months about a potent mold problem. One parent wrote a petition requesting that administrators conduct “urgent repairs and mold remediation.”
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