Lucerne Valley Unified School District:
A Flexible Capacity Partner
Case Study
When staffing shortages threatened to disrupt speech services for students, Lucerne Valley Unified School District (LVUSD) found a partner they could count on. This case study shows how LVUSD worked with eLuma to overcome sudden challenges, maintain uninterrupted care, and build a partnership grounded in trust, flexibility, and results.
About Lucerne Valley Unified School District (LVUSD)
LVUSD is a small, rural district in California serving more than 1,100 students across four schools. Nearly half of its students live below the poverty line, and the district is known for its strong sense of community and student-first culture. Like many rural districts, LVUSD has faced ongoing difficulties in securing highly specialized providers, especially speech-language pathologists (SLPs).
Table of Contents
The Initial Challenge: A Staffing Model That No Longer Worked
In 2017, a change in state regulations forced LVUSD to stop using a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) with external supervision.
Recruitment agencies offered higher salaries than LVUSD could compete with. Without the ability to hire a full-time, on-site SLP in a competitive job market, the district was left with no immediate way to meet its students’ needs.
“If I had a speech therapist on-site, I wouldn’t have needed an SLPA. That did not work for us. We suddenly lost our SLPA, and I had to find an alternative quickly.”
— Vici Miller, Director of Student Educational Services, LVUSD
The eLuma Solution: Responsive, Reliable, and Ready
Facing a critical gap, LVUSD reached out to multiple providers. eLuma was the first to respond — and the only one to send a representative to meet with the district in person. That responsiveness set the tone for a partnership that continues today.
From the start, eLuma provided high-quality virtual speech therapy with seamless communication and a dedicated point of contact. For LVUSD, eLuma was more than a stopgap. It was a partner who understood the urgency and delivered solutions immediately.
The Transition and Unexpected Return
In 2021, LVUSD hired an on-site SLP and paused its contract with eLuma, though the district remained clear: if another shortage arose, eLuma would be their first call. That moment came less than a year later when their SLP resigned with only two weeks’ notice.
Within days, eLuma mobilized a licensed SLP and prevented any disruption to student services. Today, four eLuma therapists serve 95 LVUSD students, ensuring every child continues to receive support without interruption.
“I called Jeremy [eLuma’s Founder] and said, ‘I need you now.’ And he said, ‘Okay.’ And here we are.”
Looking Ahead: Flexibility That Brings Peace of Mind
For LVUSD, eLuma provides something invaluable: stability in the face of uncertainty. Whether it is stepping in during a crisis or supporting students long term, eLuma ensures services continue without disruption.
“Knowing eLuma is just a call away gives us peace of mind. We can focus on our students instead of worrying about what happens if someone leaves.”
Why LVUSD Continues to Choose eLuma
LVUSD sees eLuma as more than a vendor. They see a partner who adapts quickly, listens carefully, and feels like part of the team.
Dedicated relationship management: “Because you have a live person that is the contact to connect with… we have one person to call.”
Flexibility and immediate support: “When something doesn’t work, things are juggled. It wasn’t even, ‘Sorry, you have to bite the bullet until the end of May.’ It was an immediate solution that worked.”
Commitment to student success: eLuma matches therapists to district needs and adjusts staffing quickly when necessary.
Cultural alignment: Providers integrate into the district’s collaborative, student-centered approach, building trust with staff and families.