More special needs schools coming to Maryland’s Eastern Shore

Salisbury, Md. – For decades, the only school specifically serving children with disabilities on Maryland’s Eastern Shore was Benedictine School in Caroline County. Now, the school will expand its services, and two others will join it to serve the eastern and lower shore.

“We’ve got the Chime school and Benedictine and Kennedy Krieger [Institute] committed to building schools here on the lower shore, it’s just going to be game-changing for families,” Greater Salisbury Committee CEO and President Mike Dunn said.

In March of 2023, the GSC founded Healthy Minds for Shore, a coalition of local mental health agencies and community stakeholders, to bring more schools with services for disabled students. Community stakeholders include, among others, representatives of Tidal Health, Perdue Foundation, Salisbury University, Wor-Wic Community College and the Child and Family Center.

Healthy Minds for Shore also met with the Eastern Shore Delegation, who then advocated for more resources for children with special needs. Dunn said thanks to those efforts, Kennedy Krieger received $5 million from this year’s state budget to go toward building a school in Wicomico County.

“Now having them in our community, is just going to create that opportunity for so many children around here who need it and haven’t been able to access it,” Dr. Samantha Scott said. Dr. Scott is the clinical director and co-owner of the Child and Family Center.

Dunn and Dr. Scott both agree the schools will be able to meet children’s needs through several services like speech and occupational therapy while they learn.

“At Chimes, we believe that education just doesn’t happen behind a desk,” Chimes COO Pamela Meadows said. “We are preparing our students to become part of their community.”

Meadows also said that, through partnerships with the local community, there will be avenues to bring in more jobs to the area.

Chimes International is one of the nation’s largest providers of support and services for children, youth, and adults with disabilities and mental health challenges. The Chimes School Eastern Shore is set to expand educational opportunities for the more than 7,000 Autistic and disabled students in the region who need specialized services.

In a statement to WMDT, Wicomico County Public Schools Director of Special Education Kevin Smith said they are grateful for the additional support and look forward to working with Chimes.

“The addition of The Chimes School on the Lower Shore represents an important expansion of the continuum of special education services available to students and families,” Smith said. “Furthermore, the addition of The Chimes School creates a new partner in our community to provide intensive special education services closer to the student’s home, reducing long commute times and strengthening school and family partnerships.”

Dunn confirmed Chimes is in active talks for a parcel of land in Salisbury for the school, and Meadows said the school will open in two phases. The first phase will open its doors next year to 30 students ranging from five to 10 years old, and the next phase will welcome at least 100 students in 2028.

Benedictine plans to open in Fall 2026, and Kennedy Krieger Institute will open its doors in the coming years.