My name is Marnie Chapman-Lang, and I’ve served as a school social worker in Broward County Public Schools for the past three years. I’m here to express my concern about the proposed elimination of 24 school social worker positions.

Every day, I work with students facing mental health challenges, crises, and instability at home. We are often the first line of support when a student is struggling, and we stay involved to help prevent situations from escalating.

Right now, caseloads already exceed recommended ratios. Reducing positions will only increase that burden, leading to slower crisis response, fewer opportunities for early intervention, and less support for the students who need it most.

I am also concerned about what this means for the district’s commitment to student mental health. Families trust that these supports will be there for their children.

I urge you to carefully consider the impact of these cuts and to prioritize the services that directly support students’ well-being and success.

Thank you for your time.

Respectfully,
Marnie Chapman-Lang

My name is Melanie Birken, and I have served as a school social worker in Broward County Public Schools since 1999. I am writing to express serious concern regarding the proposed elimination of 24 school social worker positions, including colleagues who were recently hired. While I understand that this is a workshop for discussion and not a final vote, I urge the Board to carefully consider the impact this proposal would have before moving forward.
For more than 25 years, I have worked directly with students and families navigating mental health crises, trauma, homelessness, chronic absenteeism, family instability, and safety concerns. School social workers are often the professionals responding first when a student is in crisis and are responsible for ongoing interventions that prevent issues from escalating.
Reducing school social work staffing will result in delayed crisis response, fewer attendance and truancy interventions, reduced family engagement, and limited capacity for early intervention. These impacts will be felt most by students with the greatest needs and by schools already managing high caseloads and complex challenges.
I am also deeply concerned that these proposed reductions conflict with commitments already made by the District and its voters, including the voter‑approved mental health portion of the Secure the Next Generation Referendum. Families supported these initiatives with the expectation that mental health services in schools would be strengthened—not reduced.
This workshop provides an important opportunity to pause, think critically, and explore alternatives that do not reduce direct student mental health supports. I respectfully ask the Board to fully consider the long‑term consequences of these proposed cuts and to engage school social workers in identifying solutions that align with student needs and community expectations.
Decisions discussed at this table affect real children, real families, and real lives. I urge you to choose protection, prevention, and support as these conversations continue.
Thank you for your time, consideration, and commitment to Broward County’s students.
Respectfully,
Melanie Birken