Chicopee schools should get more state funds
Date: 5/24/2011
May 25, 2011By G. Michael Dobbs
Managing Editor
CHICOPEE — Mayor Michael Bissonnette announced at the School Committee meeting on May 18 that Chicopee's state allocation for Chapter 70 education funds rose by 2.5 million in all three versions — those written by the House, the Senate and Gov. Deval Patrick — of the fiscal year 2012 state budget.
Bissonnette explained the increase would help the city offset the end of federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act monies that were used for education.
The city is also expected to see about $1 million in funds from School Choice, he added.
"All in all, the schools have done very well," Bissonnette said. "Chicopee is one of 13 communities in the state to receive an increase in Chapter 70 funds."
The additional funding should allow the city to avoid layoffs of school personnel as well as cutbacks in programs, Bissonnette said. He also said he believes there will be no fees for transportation, parking or for participation in athletics for students.
He noted the city has seen decreases from lottery aid and in the amount the state contributes in Quinn Bill expenses, which pays for the further education of police officers.
Bissonnette invited the public to a meeting at 6:30 p.m. on May 25 at the City Council chambers in City Hall to review the status of capital projects, including the conversion of the former Chicopee High School into a middle school.
He said the new health insurance plan for city employees should be discussed. Bissonnette told
Reminder Publications the new plan will save both the city and the employees money and will prevent the city from being forced into the state's Group Insurance Commission.
He said the completion of the plan was "done without a lot of public noise and argument as in other parts of the state."
*** During the past several meetings, the School Committee has been hearing presentations from principals of each of the city's schools detailing activities at his or her school this year.
The principals from Belcher School, Patrick E. Bowe School, Sgt. Robert R. Litwin School, James C. Selser Memorial School and the Szetela Early Childhood School spoke last week.
Szetela Principal Janet Reid spoke on how the full inclusion policy has helped the special needs students at the school. About half of the students require additional consideration and Reid said that keeping the students in the classroom allows then to pick up skills better than if they were taken out of the classroom.
She added the school's staff works very hard to involve parents in the educational process.
Samuel Karlin, principal of the Belcher School, spoke on the increased space the school now has with its move to the former St. Patrick's School. He noted that an annual event such as the school's winter carnival was presented easily in the facility's auditorium.
He said to help the students adjust to their new surroundings the school staff hosted a celebration on the 100th day of being in the school.
Litwin Principal Jordana Harper-Ewert reported the school was no longer underperforming in math and that it too has a policy of full inclusion for special needs students, which make up 26 percent of the student body. Litwin third graders, like other Chicopee students, raised money for relief activities in Japan, she added.
The Bowe School has a new playground, Principal David Potter reported, which has improved recess for students. He also said the school developed a Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) "Olympics" that combined physical activities with learning.
Members of the Selser School Council made the presentation for that school and spoke about the school's recycling efforts.
School Committee member Mary Elizabeth Pniak-Costello asked the principals what is being done to ensure the improvement of MCAS scores. Irene Lemieux, the principal of the Selser School, explained, "If you don't create an environment in which students feel comfortable, you're not going to move forward."
