Multiple public commenters used the district meeting Tuesday to press the governing board on student support staff and to raise allegations about past employee conduct.

A Canyon Elementary parent, Kelly Leneker, addressed the board during public comment and described how a school social worker, identified as Amber Chudzik, supported her child through severe anxiety. “She became his safe person,” Leneker said, adding, “Please don't take her away.” Leneker asked trustees to preserve the social‑work support the family credits with enabling their child's school participation.

Separately, a public commenter, Jody Brackett, raised allegations she said she learned through public records requests about a former social worker's conduct and asserted a principal and board member were aware of some actions. Brackett said the former social worker had reported taking minors off campus and, in one instance, posing as a parent to a provider. Brackett asked the district what had been done and requested follow‑up.

Board response: Dr. Summers said administration would follow up on public comments and provide contact information. Trustee Melissa Ewing used the board response time to say she had not been informed earlier that her name appeared in records and characterized the matter as defamatory and arising from unprofessional behavior by an employee; she said HR had not notified her and she sought assurance better notification processes are in place.

Why it matters: school‑based mental‑health staff and social workers play a frontline role for many students; changes to staffing or oversight lapses prompt community concern and requests for transparency. The meeting recorded public testimony both in support of retaining specific personnel and raising accountability questions about a prior incident that the commenter said had been investigated.

Follow‑up: Superintendent Summers acknowledged the comments and committed administration to follow up with the public commenters and the board; trustees asked staff to report back through the usual staff‑report channels and via Friday reports as appropriate.