BWork Session Date: Augest 5, 2025
Board Members Present: Beachley, Burkett, Evans, Guessford, Murray, Zentmeyer
Board Members Absent: McCusker, Student Representative Nora Murthy
Video to full work session HERE
| Agenda Item / Topic #1 |
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| Landon’s Project Update |
| Presenter(s) |
| Dr. David Sovine, Superintendent, Dr. Jennifer Webster, Associate Superintendent for Administration and Leadership, Landon’s Project Advisory Board Members |
| Summary |
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An update was provided on Landon’s Project, a community partnership aimed at uniting the medical, community, and educational sectors to innovate WCPS student programming. Mr. Benito Vattelana, Mr. Christopher Smith, and Landon Smith, and Drs. Budi, Rau, and Van spoke about the urgent need to update specialized programming to ensure that all students enhance their experiences and to see that they receive the support needed to capitalize on their unique strengths and the importance of leveraging community partnerships and resources. Landon’s Project will: This model approach to educating unique learners will begin in August, 2025 in the Funkstown Elementary School building. Grant funding has allowed for the hiring of a coordinator for Landon’s Project. There will be two classrooms of “enhanced” programming for students in WCPS STEP and Summit programs. There will be two classrooms of “enhanced” programming for students in WCPS STEP and Summit programs. Supported by our medical partners. District parent engagement events for parents of unique learners will be hosted by WCPS at the Funkstown site and in the broader community for parents of our unique learners. At the start of the work session Dr. Sovine introduced Benito Vattelana, his son-in-law, Christopher Smith, and his grandson, Landon Smith; and acknowledged the presence of Landon’s Project Advisory Board members. Mr. Vattelana explained that he wanted the Board to meet Landon as he was the inspiration for what has become Landon’s Project. He explained that Landon’s Project is about unlocking the gifts of special needs kids by collectively work together to find the resources and by bringing the community together to rally around children like Landon. Landon and his father spoke about Landon’s interests and involvement in sports and music. Mr. Vatellana shared that when Landon was six years old his parents were told that he would never learn to speak English and they would have to build a life around him. Landon’s parents removed him from the school system and became his behavioral specialists and hired private therapists to work with him. Mr. Vatellana told the Board members that he had reached out to Dr. Sovine and Dr. Webster asking them to meet with him to discuss what could be done in Washington County to help students like Landon. He thanked Dr. Sovine and Dr. Webster for the initiative that has become Landon’s Project. He emphasized the importance of providing the support and resources necessary for students to be able to work successfully in the classroom with their peers and to set them on a “normal path in life” to become a part of their community. Dr. Webster through a PowerPoint presentation shared information about Landon’s Project and the ways in which education, medical, and university resources will come together to serve students and remove barriers. As part of this initiative, teachers and paraprofessionals will be Following her presentation, Dr. Webster introduced three medical providers from the community, Drs. Budi, Van, and Rau who spoke about the need for this new therapeutic school, their perspectives, and what their commitment is to the partnership. All three expressed excitement about the possibilities for the students who will be served through Landon’s project. To conclude the presentation, Dr. Webster introduced Steve O’Farrell, a Landon’s Project advisory board member and a former chair of the Special Education Citizen Advisory Committee (SECAC). Mr. O’Farrell shared his perspective as the parent of a WSPS student with special needs and as the SECAC chairperson for several years. Mr. O’Farrell shared that after “begging for sensory toys and low light for classrooms, now we’re on the precipice of something that is going to be a game changer for so many in our community.” He thanked Dr. Sovine, Dr. Webster, and Benito Vatellana for leading “something way overdue that will have a profound impact on our community.” He said the community is crying out for help and sees Landon’s Project as problems being identified, prioritized, and taken on with a collaborative framework and a kind spirit. He shared that parents are not specialists or therapists and they need help and a resource like Landon’s Project will be life changing not only for students but their families and ultimately to our community. President Zentmeyer asked if there were any more questions and said to Mr. O’Farrell, “I can’t thank you enough. We’ll need to get a copy of that for some sound bites later on.” Mr. O’Farrell responded that he would be happy to do so. Dr. Webster concluded the presentation. President Zentmeyer thanked Dr. Webster, “Thanks for being on our team and thank you for so much because this project and Benito, you too, is one that will grow and support those students who’ve been marginalized, and without you doing that and spearheading for us the part it would have been a lot longer. But, so thank you so much.” Dr. Webster responded, “My pleasure.” Board member Guessford said, “I have a question, if you don’t mind. Just one question here.” (See question below.) Click here to go directly to the slideshow. |
| General Board Member Comments /Questions |
| Board Member Evans: “…very needed, especially students with special needs like this. There is no one fix all solution, right? And, and I think that is the biggest problem that not just our system but every system in the country has – how we’re just not set up to go and individualize it the way it needs to be, and you guys are really the pioneers in that. So, we truly appreciate it. Um, could you, and I’m just I’m, I’m really only asking this for information purposes, because, as a board member, I want to know what we can do to essentially get out of your way. What can we do to make your job easier? So, can, can you kind of, and I don’t even know if you can do this because of how unique the, each student’s needs are, but can you kind of walk us through, kind of walk us through a day of of a student’s, ah a student in this program, whether they’re in one of our general schools, which I, I’d imagine would be a little less restrictive compared to maybe a student over in Funkstown, and when the doctors would be, when your doctors would be really working with them directly. Is that mainly in the school day or is that after hours or how does that look? Or, like I said, if you can’t answer, answer it I understand. It’s very complex.”The response from the three doctors present: One of the doctors responded that they have some time they can dedicate for the students in school and for overseeing the multidisciplinary approach where students are receiving not just behavioral and occupational therapy or speech therapy to see that students are being “treated appropriately” or if they need anything more. They will be available to collaborate with a student’s primary care physician outside of school “to see if this can be done smoothly.” She said that is what she envisioned. Another of the doctors said they would be there to help with the parents if they had any questions and to “have a sit down with the primary care physician and talk about and answer questions about “how to navigate their kids day[-to-day life whether it’s medical or psychosocial or social aspects of it”, collaborating with the parents to suggest and offer advice. Dr. Budi said that most of the work was going to be done by the teachers, behavior specialists, and occupational therapists in the multi-disciplinary approach and doctors would be doing the things Drs. Rau and Van said, but it is sometimes more effective to have a medical doctor to speak to the primary care giver to express what needs to be done. This would be helpful in optimizing the medical treatment, but most of the treatment these students receive is going to be behavior modification. He said what’s important is to gradually assimilate these students into the regular classroom. Board Member Evans thanked the doctors and expressed his appreciation to them. Dr. Zentmeyer asked if anybody else had a question. She commented, “I just can’t wait to see where we go with this. It’s so exciting to be on the ground floor, but I just know it’s going to be a great building. Thank you. Thank you so much.” Board Member Guessford: “How many students are we prepared for? You’re saying two classrooms. I’m assuming two teachers and a parapro.” Dr. Webster responded that five students per classroom were anticipated based on the needs of students. She explained, “We’ll be flexible as we, like I mentioned. We will evolve, but we’re preparing with two teachers and two parapros for the two classrooms.” Board Member Guessford: "Do we know what the demographics are in Washington County of autism students that we have, that we know that they’re out there that we have not had any connection with, or have we have many in our schools and we only have room for 10?” Dr. Webster: “The classrooms that we’re starting are not necessarily all students with autism. The topic of autism has come up because of Landon’s specific diagnosis, but in general our spirit is around do we have the programming to serve the unique needs of students. And so, the profiles of some may be around neurodivergences, but the profiles of others may be more complex or just different. So, the students we have selected to start these classrooms are the most complex of the students we’re currently serving who we know, right now, and in the existing programming in our comprehensive schools we are not able to adequately meet their needs there. Board Member Evans: “What about the students in the general school setting? Is that more of the sensory stuff that we’re doing or is there actual programming there too?” Dr. Webster asked if Mr. Evans could rephrase his question. Board Member Evans: “Well, I thought we said there’s going to be students within each of our general school system that will benefit from this project as well, right?” Dr. Webster: “So, yeah, exactly. So, the idea of distribution of sensory materials to schools that need it for the students who have that specific need, but also the parenting engagement events that we’ll be able to host will appeal to parents across the county. |
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