Speech Therapists Say 17 Schools Lack SLPs as HR Onboarding Stalls

West Contra Costa Unified's speech-language pathologists (SLPs) came to the Board of Education's Oct. 16, 2026, special meeting with a pointed message. They said 17 school sites have no working speech therapist and that hundreds of students are missing services the law requires. About a dozen speakers, mostly SLPs and parents, used roughly an hour of public comment to blame stalled human resources onboarding. The board did not respond on the record and took no recorded action.

• 17 school sites lack a working SLP, speakers said, with more than 400 students waiting 26 school days for services.

• SLPs and their union pressed HR to onboard cleared contractors immediately and give a public update at the next meeting.

• West County Mandarin School parents said the school has had no speech coverage this year and one resource specialist for about 650 students.

• Parents warned that private-therapist reimbursements of $150 to $250 an hour could leave the district with a large bill.

"Staffed on Paper": The Speech Therapy Gap

The basics: Students with an individualized education program, or IEP, are legally entitled to the services it lists, including speech therapy. When the district misses those minutes, it typically owes "compensatory services," meaning make-up sessions. SELPA, the Special Education Local Plan Area, coordinates special education services.

Why it matters: Speakers said missed IEP services are already piling up. That creates make-up obligations, possible reimbursement costs and lost progress for students who rely on speech support to communicate and learn.

Where things stand: Commenters described a pipeline that stalled at the last step. Contractors were cleared Sept. 14, they said, but were still not onboarded eight business days later. Some in-person providers withdrew while they waited.

"17 sites are staffed on paper, but only by contractors who are still waiting to be onboarded," said public commenter Priscilla Lau, an SLP and parent. She asked the district to "get those contractors onboarded this week, please, and share a public update at the next meeting."

Andrea Livinghouse, an SLP speaking for United Teachers of Richmond, said HR red tape cost the district qualified bilingual providers. District SLP Danielle DeVoe said the district was slow to hire and onboard despite early warnings, and she urged proactive planning.

The criticism was aimed at HR, not special education leadership. Several speakers thanked SELPA Director Dr. Chang. Secondary SLP co-lead Gail Montaño-Sosana credited Chang for letting contractors work under district SLPs' licenses, but she said onboarding remains slow. She asked for a timeline and communication to families.

Who's absorbing the gap: Chanel Jose, a special education teacher at Lupine Elementary, said current SLPs are already at caseload limits. "Our students should not pay the price for mistakes made by HR," said Jose. AAC coach Diana Baya said students who use augmentative and alternative communication devices are among those waiting.

The asks were specific:

• Onboard waiting contractors immediately.

• Notify every affected family of missed minutes.

• Staff compensatory services without overloading current SLPs.

• Plan next year's staffing in the spring.

K-12 SLP Marissa Schade went further. "I also ask that the board investigate how HR let qualified candidates become embroiled in delays and red tape," said Schade.

The other side: Not every speaker endorsed the contractor fix. Yoon, a district speech therapist and parent, asked why preparation came so late. Yoon questioned the reliance on contractors and virtual services and urged the district to make itself attractive to permanent SLPs.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The board took no action and gave no direction on the item. Families of students with IEPs bear the most immediate cost in missed services. Current SLPs face heavier caseloads, especially if make-up sessions land on them. The district's exposure grows the longer services lapse. The coordinated turnout of SLPs, union members, teachers and parents suggests organized labor and families are aligned on this issue.

What's next: Speakers asked for a public staffing update at the board's next meeting. Watch whether that appears on the agenda.

West County Mandarin Parents Seek Specialists

Why it matters: Parents at one school put a price tag on delay. They warned the district could end up paying private therapists rather than hiring its own.

Where things stand: Poonam Lo, the parent of an autistic child, said students at West County Mandarin School have had zero speech support this year. She said one resource specialist covers about 650 students. "By law, parents can pay for a private speech therapist and force the district to reimburse them," said Lo. She cited rates of $150 to $250 an hour and asked for a sustainable plan with fair wages.

Michelle Latino, speaking for West County Mandarin parents, tied her comments to items A8 and B9, the special services contracts. She urged the district to use itinerant therapists or agency contractors and to speed hiring for funded specialists and permanent aides. "We cannot volunteer our way out of a special education staffing crisis," said Latino.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: No consent items were pulled. The contracts item Latino cited advanced without discussion, so parents got no public answer on whether it addresses their school.

Minor Items

• Vista campus safety: Public commenter Heather cited violence, harassment and threats at the campus shared by high school and adult students. She asked for an incident review, a security plan review, better separation of the programs, more supervision and better reporting. "Please do what it takes to make sure our students are safe," she said.

• Madera Elementary teacher removal: Cassandra Zola, speaking for a group of parents, said a teacher was removed Sept. 10, a week before receiving her full credential. She asked the district to review the decision.

• Bus safety: A commenter identified as Marie asked for cameras, GPS and picture ID rosters on buses, including for nonverbal riders. She said it was her 23rd time speaking and that she would keep returning.

• Consent and closed session: No consent items were pulled, and the rest were accepted without a recorded vote. The board met in closed session on a public employee performance evaluation and reported no action.

• Remote attendance: Trustee Cinthia Hernandez (Trustee Area 3) participated remotely under the just-cause provision.

Looking Ahead

SLPs and parents asked for a public update on speech therapy staffing at the next board meeting. Whether the board provides one, and whether it includes onboarding numbers and a plan for compensatory services, will show how seriously it takes the issue. Families of students with IEPs can ask their school's case manager whether their child has missed speech minutes and how the district plans to make them up.