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Washoe County School District highlights community partnerships addressing hunger, health and mental‑health navigation
Summary
District leaders recognized Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Community Health Alliance, Care Solace and the Rotary Club of Reno for programs that supply school pantries, same‑day health appointments, mental‑health navigation and modest donations to support students in transition.
President Adam Mayberry and Chief Student Services Officer Paul LaMarca opened a board presentation Wednesday spotlighting community partnerships that district leaders say help remove barriers to learning.
"Hungry children cannot learn," Paul LaMarca told the board as he introduced representatives from nonprofit partners and described programs that connect families with food, health care and behavioral‑health navigation. "We currently have 37 food pantries that are located in schools," he said, and credited the Food Bank of Northern Nevada for long‑term support.
Nicole Lamboli, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, told trustees the organization provided about "23,000,000 meals" last year and, since 2021, 1,400,000 meals in Washoe County; she said the food bank directly served 45,774 families in the county. Lamboli described school‑based pantries, Kids Café after‑school meals, USDA summer feeding programs and mobile harvest events as ways the food bank complements school nutrition services.
LaMarca also described a pilot with Community Health Alliance in Sparks that is providing same‑day medical and dental appointments at five schools, with the goal of reducing chronic absenteeism by making care more accessible. Oscar Delgado of Community Health Alliance said the program aims to serve the entire household when appropriate and that the organization hopes to expand mobile services and vaccination clinics tied to schools.
LaMarca explained a renewed relationship with Care Solace, a care‑coordination service for mental‑health referrals. Because of procurement and funding arrangements, the contract is held by the City of Reno but provides navigation services to students, families and staff districtwide. LaMarca said school psychologists, counselors and nurses received training and the district did a soft launch in October.
The Rotary Club of Reno also received acknowledgment for a $10,000 donation to train high‑school teams in SBIRT (screening, brief intervention, referral to treatment) and for supporting the district's Children in Transition program with motel assistance, clothing and backpacks.
Trustees asked about volunteer and student engagement opportunities. "Volunteer events are one of the hearts of the work we do," Lamboli said, and encouraged schools and families to coordinate with the food bank. Student Trustee Peyton Weir told the board she participates in food‑bank work during Thanksgiving and expressed gratitude for the partnership.
The presentation concluded with trustees and Superintendent Joe Ernst thanking partners for services they said improve students' access to instruction and basic supports.
