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 about 15 groups supporting 79 students total" and estimates Medicaid reimbursement for some services could be in the thousands monthly if fully billed.

Students also spoke. A young commenter said of a named social worker: "She helps me calm down…she always made sure I was heard, comfortable, safe and understood," and several students testified that losing their site's social worker would remove the one trusted adult they turn to at school.

The teachers' union and other staff framed the issue as fiscal and programmatic. Brian Wallace, president of OCEA (the certified staff association), warned trustees that operating with a multi‑million dollar deficit is unsustainable but urged a legislative response and direct advocacy: "This approach is not sustainable under the current funding structure," he said.

What the public asked for: speakers urged trustees to (1) retain social workers districtwide (elementary staff emphasized they have no counselors/deans on site), (2) pursue Medicaid reimbursement and other revenue pathways rather than layoffs, (3) pilot alternate staffing before cuts, and (4) prioritize student safety and MTSS supports. Several social workers described caseloads (one said she manages 70 active elementary cases and supports 100+ students who experienced homelessness in two years).

Board response and next steps: Trustees recorded the public comments and pulled agenda item 13 (discussion/possible action about authorizing layoff notices) earlier in the meeting so it will be returned for later consideration. Staff were asked to provide the budget packet and requested clarifying materials; members of the public requested detailed explanations of any proposed reductions and urged the board to seek alternatives to cutting the social‑work team.

Why it matters: Employees and families argued that removing trained mental‑health professionals would increase behavioral incidents, reduce attendance and academic engagement, and shift acute crisis management to teachers and administrators who are not clinically trained. Several speakers explicitly linked school social work services to prevention of suicide and other high‑risk outcomes.

Representative quotes: • Nicole Sitten (school social worker): "I have served as a school social worker with the Carson City School District for the past 11 years... I ask, who will continue these services at this critical level if school social workers are removed?" • Patricia Hernandez (school social worker): "I currently run about 15 groups supporting 79 students total... approximately 40 of those can qualify as Medicaid recipients whom I see twice a week." • Brian Wallace (OCEA president): "This approach is not sustainable under the current funding structure... Lawmakers need to see and hear directly from those impacted."