Parents, students and staff urge board to preserve school social workers as district weighs cuts

Dozens of parents, students and district social workers told the Washington Unified School District board on Feb. 14 that proposed cuts to school social workers would reduce access to crisis intervention, counseling and preventive supports.

Patricia Moore, a school social worker at Westmore Oaks Elementary and a longtime resident of West Sacramento, told the board the district had informed staff that three social worker positions would be cut and warned that reducing the team from eight to five would “drastically limit the level of support we can provide students and families.” She said social workers provide suicide-risk screening, crisis intervention, group work, referrals and serve as a daily safety net for students.

The Washington Unified Teachers Association's President, who addressed the board earlier in the meeting, raised two related…