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Speech-language pathologists tell board caseloads exceed state guidance, urge contract and counting changes
Summary
A district speech-language pathologist told the board full-time SLP caseloads average about 79 students in Oakdale—well above the Ed. Code guidance of 55—urging accurate student counts and contract changes to address staffing and pay.
At the meeting’s public-comment period, Dina Adam, a speech-language pathologist with 14 years in the district, told trustees that Oakdale’s SLP staffing and caseloads are strained and urged the board to press for contract changes.
“My name is Dina Adam, and I've served the school district as a speech language pathologist for the last 14 years,” she began, and then described caseload figures that she said reflect a staffing shortage: “Ed code states that full time SLP caseloads should not exceed 55 students ... In Oakdale, our caseload average is 79 for full time SLPs. There are 5 full time SLPs in the district.”
Adam said the district’s SLPs do not decline assessments or referrals and that her figures include students awaiting initial assessments and those served by itinerant or part-time providers. She also said SLPs were told to the district negotiating team that the numbers were “inaccurate” because the district’s count only included the case manager; Adam pushed back, saying the Ed. Code definition requires counting any student with an IEP for which speech-language services are provided.
Adam framed the issue as both a pay and workload problem: competitive pay and caseload caps, she said, are necessary to recruit and retain SLPs in the face of regional shortages. She asked the board to ensure employees are represented truthfully to the public and to the negotiating team.
Board members did not take immediate action during public comment. The record shows the concern was raised publicly and may be referred to the negotiating team and district administrators for follow up.
