New contract will save schools $750,000

Date: 4/12/2011

April 13, 2011

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

CHICOPEE — Mayor Michael Bissonnette told the School Committee at its April 6 meeting that the ratification by the Chicopee Education Association on a proposal for health insurance for teachers would be a benefit to both teachers and the taxpayers.

Bissonnette said the city has been working for the past three years to "get control" of costs associated with health insurance. The city's plan will cost it less than joining the state's health insurance plan, he added. The Bargaining Committee rejected accepting the state plan.

Under the new proposal, the School Department will save $750,000 on benefits costs, according to Bissonnette. The premiums to the teachers will be reduced and for the first time a voluntary flexible savings account will be offered. The account allows teachers to have money from their checks removed before taxes and placed in an account that can be used to pay for prescriptions and co-pays.

There are several other unions, which must now enter into negotiations with the city, the mayor added.

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The School Committee heard the annual reports from Chicopee Comprehensive High School, Chicopee High School, the Career and Technical Division and Chicopee Academy.

Each of the speakers presented highlights of academic, athletic and extracurricular programs and each stressed the community service the Chicopee high schools' students do for their city from organizing the Relay for Life to can and bottle drives to volunteering at Lorraine's Soup Kitchen.

Derek Morrison, the principal of Chicopee Comp, said the dropout rate at that school is at 4 percent — the lowest since statistics had been kept. He added that school wide attendance policies had been developed and that communication with parents had been strengthened. He noted that 93 percent of Comp parents have signed up for the school's e-mail list.

Kenneth Widelo, director of the Career and Technical Education Division, told the committee about the house being built by technical students on McKinstry Street. The project allows students from several building trade programs to receive first hand experience on construction, he explained. The harsh winter set the schedule back a little, he noted, but work is continuing on the project.

Widelo also said that participation in the SkillsUSA program has increased. This national organization, according to its Web site, "is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce."

Widelo said when the program was first introduced it had seven students in Chicopee. It now has 56 members with the goal of all 434 students in the technical program as members.

Chicopee High Principal Roland Joyal said the graduation rates has increased and dropout rates has decreased at that school and there has been increased enrollment in Advanced Placement classes.

He added the school now has a WorldQuest team, which has competed in the national program that tests the knowledge of high school students on geography, history and international affairs.

John Leonard, the principal of Chicopee Academy, the city's alternative high school, told the committee the goal of the school's staff is to get students "to the finish line."

The school has used a summer program to get students who are returning to school to earn initial credits and to restore their confidence, he noted. Leonard added the use of a computer program "Career Cruiser" to help determine career paths has also been successful.

The school started a program to help students obtain their learner's permit and has a successful mentoring program with the Bowie School.