Washington County updates Landon’s Project at Funkstown Elementary; private donors accelerate classrooms and playground

Washington County Public Schools on Wednesday presented a progress update on the Landon’s Project, the district’s enhanced‑program initiative based at the former Funkstown Elementary School.

Deputy Superintendent Gary Willow said the effort is meant to be a community partnership rather than a district‑only program. “It’s not meant to be a WCPS fully driven initiative,” Willow said, adding the district will seek outside academic and medical expertise to shape best practices as it expands.

Dr. Patrick Gravlin, the district’s director of special education, said WCPS opened an enhanced STEP classroom this school year for kindergarten through second‑grade students with cognitive and behavioral needs. The classroom began the year with four students, a teacher and two paraprofessionals. A second enhanced “Summit” classroom for students in grades 2–4 opened Feb. 17 and now serves three students with a teacher, two paraprofessionals and a social worker. Gravlin said 11 students have been supported by the Funkstown enhanced programs so far and that staff work with families and IEP teams when non‑public placements are being sought so instruction continues during transitions.

Ashley Park Brous, the coordinator of enhanced programs at Funkstown, described family‑focused outreach: a sensory‑friendly trunk‑or‑treat and a January information night attended by more than 30 families where staff connected parents with service‑coordination resources, the Developmental Disabilities Administration and the autism waiver coordinator.

Advisory board member Benito Vadilana described private fundraising and in‑kind support that have sustained and expanded the project: about $20,000 invested at Funkstown this year, a $150,000 pledge from the Dallas, Virginia and David Fletcher Foundation (delivered early), and a $100,000 pledge from the Bowman Foundation spread over five years. “When something’s actually visible … it’s easier sometimes to step up,” Vadilana said, describing donations, an Amazon wish list and planned fundraisers.

Board members pressed presenters on specifics. Facilities staff said they expect to have a new, accessible playground installed by the end of the summer or at the start of the next school year, and that the Fletcher Foundation contribution is earmarked toward that project. The district provided a web link and QR code for a wish list and said it would work with communications staff to add a donation link to the WCPS website.

Willow and Park Brous said the district’s goal is to build continuity and to return students to comprehensive schools when appropriate: staff sometimes accompany a student to the receiving school for several days to train receiving staff and ensure strategies are carried over. Presenters emphasized continued staff training and the need to bring in medical and university partners to strengthen the program’s model before larger expansion.

The board did not take any formal action during the update; presenters said they will return with progress reports and next‑step planning.