With more than 576 signatures, parent Claudia Delgado is pushing for change and calling attention to the mold, aging plumbing, malfunctioning HVAC system, sewage issues, leaks, broken tiles, poor ventilation and asbestos concerns at Montgomery County’s Sherwood High School, where her daughter studies.
“My daughter spends her mornings in a moldy classroom and often suffers from a ‘cold.’ These conditions do not create a healthy, safe, or positive environment for learning,” Delgado wrote on the petition page, urging action to address the problems.
In recent years, a growing amount of students, staff, and parents have raised concerns about the mold and poor air quality in the school building, located at 300 Olney-Sandy Spring Road.
It is a visible, documented problem
A report commissioned in October 2023 by fine arts teacher Hailey Mitkoff identified several species of mold in damp areas and noted long-standing water damage. The report recommended “prompt remediation” and “elimination of moisture sources,” according to a story in the Sherwood student newspaper, The Warrior Online.
Teachers have also described years of declining maintenance—missing tiles, rusted areas from past floods, and unrestored trim—suggesting that upkeep has been neglected and temporary fixes have failed to stop mold from returning.
Courtesy: End The Neglect of Sherwood High School website
Andrea L. Swiatocha, MCPS deputy chief of facilities management, attributed the issue largely to the school” outdated HVAC system from 1954, which can no longer prevent moisture buildup.
After touring the school in November, Swiatocha acknowledged that recent maintenance efforts, like cleaning, replacing tiles and other short-term steps were not enough.
The mold problem at Sherwood is part of a broader challenge within MCPS. Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor has avowed similar issues across many schools due to aging HVAC systems and years of deferred maintenance, which he expects will take “many years to correct.”
In previous comments, Taylor said, “It’s one of the issues we dealt with this summer,” describing some HVAC systems as running on “chewing gum and duct tape,” highlighting the deteriorating conditions of more than 40 systems across the district’s 211 campuses.
“It’s completely unacceptable for us,” he added. “We are absolutely remediating the mold, especially at a handful of schools.”
Meanwhile, the school community continues to feel the impact
According to the Sherwood High School newspaper, a classroom in the lower F-wing has been deemed unusable for regular instruction because of a persistent musty odor.
On her petition page, Delgado shared photos and notes from teachers describing what they see, feel, and smell every day at school.
Parents remain particularly concerned about potential health risks, including respiratory issues. Petitions like Delgado’s are among the steps parents, teachers and caregivers are taking to push for a permanent solution to the mold problem at Sherwood High School.
