A middle school in Montgomery County, Maryland, is closed on Monday after a tree fell onto the building, making it unsafe to enter. According to Montgomery County Public Schools, Westland Middle School in Bethesda sustained structural damage from the rainy and windy weather over the weekend, particularly affecting classrooms at the rear of the school.
“The damage in those areas unfortunately prevents us from safely operating the school for students,” the district said in a statement Sunday evening. While facilities and maintenance crews began assessing the situation on Sunday, the size of the fallen tree means a large crane is needed to remove it, which further delays safe reentry for students and staff.
Altogether, 18 classrooms are currently off-limits as the removal process continues. The school district acknowledged the disruption and apologized to students, staff, and families for the inconvenience. An update on plans for Tuesday — the scheduled last day of school before summer break — will be provided soon.
