Collaboration in Action:
How eLuma Helped Rural Kansas Schools Deliver Seamless Student Support
Case Study
Discover how Chautauqua and Elk County Schools in rural Kansas partnered with eLuma to overcome staffing shortages, deliver uninterrupted therapy services, and ensure student progress. This case study highlights how strong leadership, skilled clinicians, and dedicated support came together to form a “trifecta” model that makes virtual services seamless and sustainable.
About Chautauqua and Elk County Schools
Chautauqua and Elk County Special Services Cooperative supports three rural school districts in Kansas. With local towns having fewer than 2,000 residents, recruiting and retaining specialists such as speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists has long been a challenge. Distance compounds the problem—larger cities with more providers are over an hour away.
By leveraging eLuma’s virtual therapy, the districts have been able to maintain compliance, reduce strain on staff, and deliver consistent, high-quality support to students across the region.
Table of Contents
A Rural District with Big Needs
Staffing shortages are a constant reality for Chautauqua and Elk County Schools. Without enough qualified specialists, districts risk missed services, compliance challenges, and overburdened staff. In small communities where recruiting is difficult, the stakes are especially high for students who rely on consistent support.
To meet these challenges, leaders sought a reliable partner who could deliver both flexibility and collaboration. Through its partnership with eLuma, the cooperative established a system that ensures students never lose access to the services they need.
At the center of these efforts is Kay Hill, Director of Special Services, who oversees special education programs for the cooperative.
The Trifecta Formula for Success
Kay describes the cooperative’s approach as a “trifecta” of roles working together to make virtual therapy seamless.
Dawn, the MIS Clerk, manages access to the IEP system, technology, and data logistics while eLuma providers deliver effective therapy, participate in IEP and parent meetings, and support Medicaid billing to help offset costs.
Kiana, eLuma’s Customer Success Partner, ensures consistent communication and reliable follow-through on the district’s needs.
“It’s not just about having a provider,” Kiana explains. “It’s about having the right people in the right roles, working together with shared expectations.”
Clinicians Who Truly Collaborate
Success depends on more than technical skill—it requires teamwork. eLuma’s speech-language pathologists have built strong partnerships with the district’s onsite SLPs, brainstorming, problem-solving, and supporting one another as if they were in the same building.
“They chat regularly, bounce ideas off each other,” Kay added, “It’s a true team, just with some of them on screen instead of in the building.”
Even when one provider went on maternity leave mid-year, the transition to a new clinician was seamless. Students received uninterrupted services and staff never had to worry about gaps in care.
A Partner Who Listens and Solves
Behind the scenes, eLuma’s Customer Success Partner plays a vital role in sustaining the partnership. From urgent staffing needs to everyday communication, Kiana ensures the cooperative’s goals remain at the forefront.
“It hasn’t always been perfect,” Kay admits, “but every time I’ve raised a concern, it was handled quickly and to my satisfaction.”
This responsiveness has made eLuma a partner committed to long-term success.
Results That Speak for Themselves
The trifecta model has had a measurable impact. Kay evaluates success with two key questions: Are students making progress? And are required service minutes being met? With eLuma, the answer to both is yes.
The results are clear: students receive the services they deserve, staff workloads stay manageable, and the cooperative avoids costly compensatory services.
“With eLuma, our kids get the services they deserve, and our team gets the support they need. That’s what makes it work.”
Looking Ahead: Strength in Partnership
As budgets fluctuate and staffing needs evolve, Chautauqua and Elk County Schools remain confident in their choice of partner.
“Other companies reach out all the time, but I tell them, we’re happy with eLuma. The customer service is better than anyone else I’ve talked to.”
With eLuma, the cooperative has a partner it can rely on to provide stability, flexibility, and consistent care.