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Principals seek greater parental involvement

Date: 12/12/2012

By G. Michael Dobbs

news@thereminder.com

CHICOPEE — Proficiency in technology and overcoming parental apathy were among the top priorities of the principals of the city's two high schools.

The question was posed during a recent School Committee meeting in which Roland Joyal, Jr., principal of Chicopee High School, Derek Morrison, principal of Chicopee Comprehensive High School (CCHS) and Kenneth Widelo, the director of Career and Technical Education, presented their annual status report on the two schools.

Morrison and Joyal noted the two high schools, despite the long-time friendly rivalry, share similar goals and programs. For instance, they noted that both schools offer a free PSAT test to both 10th and 11th grade students.

"We do a lot of the same programs and we talk to each other," Joyal said.

Both men noted the community involvement of their student bodies from fundraising efforts such as the Relay for Life to collecting food for Lorraine's Soup Kitchen.

Widelo noted the success of the satellite office of the Polish National Credit Union at CCHS in not only training students for a career in the banking sector but also encouraging greater financial literacy among the students. He added the office renovation of the Department of Public Works building on Baskin Drive being undertaken by CCHS students would save Chicopee taxpayers between $500,000 and $600,000.

After speaking about programs and activities at their respective schools, they were asked to discus their top priorities. Joyal said that the proper utilization of technology was high for him. He noted that the use of iPads in the classroom has to be maximized.

"We need to be on the forefront of technology," he added.

Parental apathy is another concern for Joyal.

"It's tough to put a finger on [the solution]," he said.

Morrison said he would second what Joyal said and added, "We want more [parents] to be active participants."

He said his staff reaches out to parents.

Morrison said there needs to be an earlier discussion about college and that it should happen before senior year. He believes that schools should expect more from students.

Speaking on school discipline, Joyal explained, "Nine out of 10 students in the building are doing great things. A lot of the time is spent on really a small group of students."

Widelo said that he would like to see additional technical education classes and an engineering program.

Joyal and Morrison both objected to the district's designation as "Level Three" by state education officials — the third lowest ranking. If there is one Level Three school in the district, the entire district is ranked that way.

School Committee member David Barsalou said, "They're [state officials] aren't looking at the big picture."