Hundreds of speakers, students and staff urge trustees not to cut school social workers

At the March 25 meeting dozens of parents, students, educators and community members delivered sustained public comment opposing proposed cuts to school social worker positions and urging the board to preserve the district’s mental‑health staff.

Nicole Sitten, who identified herself as a school social worker at Fritz Elementary, told trustees, "I have served as a school social worker with the Carson City School District for the past 11 years," and described running school‑based programs such as a trauma‑informed 'Growth Garden' that she said supports students experiencing homelessness, grief and trauma.

Multiple speakers described the services social workers provide: group and one‑on‑one counseling, coordination with McKinney‑Vento services, referrals to community providers, crisis intervention, home visits and Medicaid‑billable clinical sessions. Patricia Hernandez, an Empire Elementary social worker, said she "runs…