Reimagining Student Services: How eLuma is Transforming Butts County Schools
Case Study
Discover how the Butts County School System (BCSS) in Georgia transformed its special education and student support services through eLuma’s virtual therapy solutions. This case study explores how BCSS alleviated staff pressures, addressed service gaps, and ensured exceptional care for its students.
About Butts County School System (BCSS)
The Butts County School System (BCSS) serves approximately 3,500 students across five schools in Jackson, Georgia. The district has a diverse student body, with 40% minority enrollment and 58% of students eligible for the federal free and reduced-price meal program.
BCSS has shown steady academic progress, with growth in nine out of eleven tested areas on the Georgia Milestones assessments. The district remains committed to continuous improvement and actively engages parents and stakeholders.
Table of Contents
When Heather Stamoules took on her role as Director of Student Services for BCSS, the district was already using eLuma for occupational therapy. However, she quickly saw the strain on the district’s speech-language pathologist, who was struggling to balance evaluations and student sessions. This workload made it difficult for BCSS to stay compliant with required caseload limits and provide timely support for students.
Recognizing the need for additional support, Stamoules explored eLuma’s virtual speech-language pathology and school psychology services.
“My job is to see the big picture. It’s about making sure we deliver quality services, meet caseload requirements, and support our team. I was already impressed by eLuma’s OT services, so expanding our collaboration to include SLPs and school psychologists was an easy and correct call.”
Building Trust and Overcoming Skepticism
Initially, some parents expressed skepticism about virtual services. However, eLuma’s therapists quickly built trust by providing high-quality care and actively participating in IEP meetings. Their commitment to collaboration helped families see them as valued members of the student support team.
“They don’t feel like contractors. They become part of the team.”
BCSS carefully planned its approach by selecting students who would benefit most from virtual therapy and ensuring a smooth onboarding process. Virtual meet-and-greets were set up with school staff, including administrators, on-site personnel, and paraprofessionals, to foster collaboration and effective service delivery.
Many students found online sessions engaging, with interactive tools that kept them motivated. For some, the virtual environment even reduced anxiety, allowing them to participate more effectively in their sessions.
The Impact: Compliance, Efficiency, and Student Success
The impact of eLuma’s services on BCSS has been significant:
- Drastically reducing overdue re-evaluations: When Stamoules started, the district had 86 overdue student re-evaluations. With eLuma’s support, that number dropped to just eight.
- Strengthening collaboration and efficiency: eLuma therapists are fully integrated into the district’s student information system and Georgia Online IEP platform, ensuring they have access to the data and resources needed for student success.
- Providing timely and consistent services: eLuma’s ability to quickly place therapists allows BCSS to meet student needs without waiting months to fill open positions.
“Anytime I’ve mentioned a need, we haven’t had to wait one or two months to hear, ‘We finally found someone for you.’ The process with eLuma has been, ‘You just tell us what you need, and we can get the ball rolling. Here, we’ve got someone lined up.’”
Strengthening Student Support for the Future
As BCSS continues to adapt to the evolving needs of its students, Stamoules plans to maintain and potentially expand eLuma’s services. She is also exploring ways to integrate virtual therapists into staff professional development, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
For other districts considering virtual therapy, Stamoules emphasizes the importance of understanding funding options and compliance requirements. By leveraging IDEA and Medicaid funding, BCSS has been able to enhance services without adding financial strain.
