Parent urges district to restore in‑person speech therapy for private‑school students

Brandon Cooper of Oshkosh addressed the board during the non‑agenda public forum Sept. 10 to urge the district to reverse an apparent decision to move speech and language therapy for private‑school students to virtual sessions.

"My name is Brandon Cooper. I live in Oshkosh," Cooper told the board. He said his kindergartner had been scheduled for in‑person therapy before the school year began but that three weeks into the term the family received an email saying the district would shift private‑school services to virtual sessions because of "vague staffing challenges." Cooper said that public‑school students were continuing to receive in‑person therapy.

"How is it reasonable to expect a 5‑year‑old, especially one who requires speech and language intervention, to meaningfully engage and benefit from virtual therapy?" Cooper asked. He said the decision undermines the quality of care his child is entitled to and raises equity concerns because private‑school attendance, he argued, should not disqualify a child from in‑person services funded by district taxpayers.

Cooper urged the district to seek a fair, inclusive solution to provide comparable in‑person supports to all students who require them regardless of school choice.

The board did not take formal action during the public forum; a board member later requested additional information about legal expectations and service levels for special education provision to private‑school students and asked the administration to provide written background on the district’s obligations and how services are normally delivered.