Magruder High School in Derwood faced a major setback when a portion of the auditorium ceiling collapsed during a performance of Once Upon a Mattress. In response, over 50 community members came together over the past two days to move the entire set, costumes, props, and audio-visual equipment—a massive effort made possible by the dedication of students and volunteers. Additionally, a fundraiser has raised over $1,000 this morning.
A member of the program tells us that the students worked tirelessly to ensure their production could continue despite the disruption. Organizers encouraged residents to attend the remaining performances on Friday and Saturday at 7 PM at Shady Grove Middle School to support the students’ hard work.
FOX5’s Homa Bash reported that while the show continued after a brief pause, the incident raised serious safety concerns about the nearly 55-year-old school’s infrastructure. Photos shared by parents with FOX5 revealed the extent of the damage, prompting school officials to close the auditorium for extensive repairs and relocate the remaining performances. While the focus remains on keeping the production running, the ceiling collapse has also reignited concerns about the school’s aging infrastructure. FOX5 shared that Kim Glassman, president of the Magruder Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA), expressed frustration over the lack of maintenance, noting that budget constraints continue to hinder necessary repairs.
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) officials stated that while long-term capital improvements are planned, incidents like the ceiling collapse fall under the operational budget. Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor has proposed an additional $9 million in the upcoming $3.6 billion budget to address ongoing maintenance issues.
As repairs move forward, the Magruder community remains focused on ensuring students can continue their performances and that necessary upgrades are made to prevent future disruptions. More details can be found in FOX5’s full report.
