Residents and school social workers urge trustees to keep social work positions

Several school social workers, counselors and community partners addressed the board during public comment, urging trustees not to eliminate school social work positions and describing the services those staff provide.

"Eliminating school social workers would create gaps that increase strain on schools and reduce supports for students and families," said Alejandra Ayala, representing the Carson City School District school social work group.

Stephanie Navidad Marcos described the breadth of services social workers provide, from universal social-emotional learning to crisis response and case management. "In moments of crisis, school social workers stand ready to respond immediately through intervention, safety planning, risk assessments, and coordination with families and community partners," she said. Molly McGregor, a school social worker at Carson Middle, referenced national research on rising youth mental-health needs and said schools are often primary access points for care.

Community speakers reinforced those points. Mayella, an intern with the University of Nevada, Reno, described how social workers mentored interns and provided field opportunities; Isaiah Pondo, a master's-level social work student, said his on-campus experience clarified the importance of school social work for the district. Rhiannon Lish, a school counselor, said losing social workers would be "a huge blow" to campuses that rely on frequent interventions and group support.

Board staff confirmed that written public comments from multiple residents were included in the permanent record. Trustees did not take action on staffing during the meeting; the public-comment period concluded with no motion related to staffing recorded in the transcript.

Speakers requested that trustees consider the operational and student-safety implications of staffing decisions and preserve school-based supports while the board continues budget deliberations.