Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Staff Writer CHICOPEE When students attending the Chicopee Academy Program enter the third floor of the old Chicopee High School this fall to begin their classes, they will most likely find that the freshly painted sky-blue walls in the classrooms, the newly built administrative offices, spacious library, and science and art room offer a stark contrast to the dark, aging hallways and classrooms of the Chapin Elementary School, which formerly housed the program. But what they may not know, however, is that their new location didn't always boast such a cheerful interior, and that behind the transformation is weeks of hard work done by inmates from the Hampden County House of Correction. For the past month and a half, the men have been putting in long hours painting a total of 100,000 square feet, completing electrical work, building bathrooms and offices, and moving furniture from Chapin Elementary School to the old high school to prepare the third floor for Chicopee Academy students. "The goal was to make this look like a brand new school for [the students]," said Assistant Superintendent of Chicopee Public Schools James Devine, who worked to create the collaboration between the program and the Hampden County House of Correction. "The place is incredible... spotless. The workers really maintained that goal." And, to show the community's appreciation for their hard work, Devine hosted a barbeque for the inmates last Thursday at the old Chicopee High, offering each of the workers food, refreshments, and a certificate to honor their part in the accomplishment. Derek Morrison, who recently replaced Brian Rachmaciej as principal of Chicopee Academy, said that the men did "outstanding work," on the school, ultimately saving the district an estimated $25,000 in labor costs. "They took a lot of pride in their work," Morrison said. "It is a nice marriage between [the Hampden County House of Correction] and the community." He said that the collaboration is mutually beneficial for both the city and the inmates. "The work was done for no cost, which was good for the city, and at the same [time] it gives the inmates a chance to get out in the community and do something positive." Ray Rivera, vocational instructor at the Hampden County House of Correction, couldn't agree more. "It's good for them because it gives them a more positive outlook and gives them a greater sense of motivation," said Rivera, who works rights along with the inmates to complete projects. He explained that the work on the old high school is just one of many projects across the state that are completed by the inmates in the Correctional Alcohol Program. Inmates in the program have also completed work on a store front in Springfield; Cyr Ice Arena in Springfield's Forest Park; Fitzpatrick Skating Rink in Holyoke; and at a church in Ludlow. He said each of the jobs are regarded as "real jobs," in which the six to seven man crew are held accountable for being on time and putting forth their best effort. According to Rivera, the inmates have to be ready to work at 6 a.m., are given a 1/2 hour lunch break and a 15 minute break, and usually finish their work around 1 p.m. He said this type of schedule keeps the inmates motivated, with the hope that this motivation will continue when they are released and in need of employment. In an attempt to help the inmates gain skills to make them more marketable in the work force, Rivera said that he tries to mix and match skills level and abilities so that the inmates can learn from one another. "I might put someone who is a skilled painter with someone who knows electrical work, so that they can both learn new skills," he explained. He said that many of the men bring years of experience in a variety of fields to the different projects. "On this job, we have a master carpenter and a guy who has been painting for the past 22 years, which is great because then the other guys can learn from them," he said. Moreover, Rivera said that the inmates "really enjoy," doing the work and that it creates a sense of camaraderie among the men. One of the inmates, Mario, said that the experience gave him a sense of completion. "I feel good about myself," Mario said. "I really feel like I accomplished something." Hampden County House of Correction Captain Tom Nolan, who started the program in 1992, commended Rivera's dedication to holding the men accountable for their work. "He really helps to give them the skills so that become responsible and overall better people so that they don't end up back here," he said. "He's a great advocate of this." He explained that the men are chosen for jobs such as these according to initial skill assessments they receive upon first entering the program, along with a one on one interview that Nolan conducts before men are assigned to particular jobs. "I've been dong this for 35 years, so if I don't have a good feeling about someone going out into the community, then I won't let [that person] go," he said. "We just don't let anyone through." Nolan, who periodically visited the work on the old Chicopee High throughout the renovation process, said "It's absolutely phenomenal what they've accomplished in such a short period of time." "They really get a good feeling knowing that they're doing something good for the community," he said. "It's a terrific feeling of accomplishment for them." According to Devine, Chicopee Academy was moved to its new location because Chapin was no longer seen as a suitable learning environment for the students. "It was unusable as a school, especially for kids of high school age," Devine said, adding that Chapin lacked a gymnasium, library and art room. Chicopee Academy, which serves students in middle school to high school, can accommodate up to 120 students, according to Morrison. He explained that students are referred to the program by a teacher or guidance counselor, and are then screened by staff at the Academy. Although attending the program was once the decision of the student, Morrison said that students are not longer given that option. "They come here after they have pretty much exhausted all other options," he said. The program is intended to be a temporary solution for students who cannot function in a traditional middle school or high school setting, with the hope that the student will eventually return to the mainstream classes. Some students, he said, remain in the program because the environment is better suited for the needs of the student. "Some students just end up doing better at the Academy," he said. According to Morrison, statistics show that in most alternative programs such as Chicopee Academy, 1/3 of the students improve, 1/3 remain the same, and the remaining 1/3 make a turn for the worse. Morrison said he is hoping that the new atmosphere will help start the year out positive for the students at Chicopee Academy. "Last year wasn't such a great year so we're hoping things will get better this year," he said. He explained that the Academy has "some great new teachers," on board for this school year, and that he's hoping to help students with reading difficulties to "get up to speed." To aid in this process, Morrison said the school will be continuing to use the READ180 Program, a comprehensive reading intervention program that helps students learn at their own level. He said that last year, the program, "showed some pretty cool results." According to Devine, all work on the old high school is near completion. "We may have a few loose nuts and bolts, but for the most part, they're finished," he said. "We'll be ready for when the kids start up school." He added, "It's going to be fun watching the students come in." | ||||||
