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Wichita Falls ISD to Contract Special‑Education Speech Services after Staffing Shortage
Summary
The Wichita Falls ISD board discussed continued reliance on contracted speech‑language pathologists and diagnosticians for 2025–26, citing recruitment challenges, existing use of teletherapy, and $1.2 million spent so far on contracted services.
Wichita Falls Independent School District trustees heard district staff on Wednesday that the district will again rely on multiple vendors to provide speech‑language pathology and diagnostician services for the 2025–26 school year because the district cannot recruit enough full‑time clinicians.
At the work session, a staff member presenting the item said the district has "4 SLPs on staff" and is "working with 13 teletherapists," resulting in about 17 total positions filled by a mix of employees and contractors. The presentation said the district has spent "thus far 1,200,000.0 on services related to PDs diagnosticians" and that an RFP process will select vendors for the coming year.
The presentation explained why contracting continues: local recruitment is difficult, regional universities do not supply sufficient interns, private‑sector wages and lighter caseloads attract clinicians to surrounding metro areas, and paperwork burdens make district positions less attractive. The presenter said the district tried pay adjustments, noting a prior TASB pay study and targeted compensation increases, but that those steps “had no bearing” on recruitment for many positions.
Board members asked for context about caseloads and service modalities. The presenter said the district tries to cap SLP caseloads at 55 students but ‘‘we always exceeded that number’’ and that teletherapy is used when in‑person services are not available; staff also acknowledged that some students cannot participate virtually because of the severity of their disabilities.
No formal contract awards were approved at the meeting; staff said the vendor pool and contracts will be presented for board action at a future meeting (the packet referenced a May 19 agenda for final action).
