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Date: 10/25/2021
CHICOPEE – Recently, Reminder Publishing reached out to candidates vying for a seat on the School Committee during the Nov. 2 municipal election. Candidates were invited to answer a series of questions related to city-specific issues.
Responses printed by Reminder Publishing on behalf of the candidates represent their own thoughts, feelings and beliefs. Reminder Publishing does not endorse any candidate nor their beliefs.
This is part two of a two-part article. The first portion was printed in the Oct. 14 edition of the Chicopee Herald.
Candidates for School Committee Ward include Timothy Wagner, David Barsalou, Saulo DePaula, Sandra Ann Peret, Grace Schofield, Samuel R. Shumsky, Donald J. Lamothe, Douglas P. Girouard and Ronald J. Bernard. The candidates for School Committee At-Large, 2-year term are Susan Ann Szetela Lopes and Stephen Nembirkow. Their response, listed in alphabetical order, are as follows.
RP: At a recent School Committee meeting, the committee passed a motion to approve a task force that will work toward improving participation in youth athletics. How would you approach shaping the task force and what initiatives would you suggest improving participation?
Barsalou, Ward 2: There is never a down-side to improving youth participation in athletics. Many students just don't have enough time in their schedules due to individual course workloads, other extracurricular activities, or after-school employment. Certain sports have always had more difficulty recruiting students than others. Football, basketball, and hockey have consistently remained popular. Not sure if a task force would solve that particular problem. Times have changed - There are so many other activities being offered in schools... The choices are numerous. Sadly, education reform has also restricted the amount of extra time a student has in their day.
DePaula, Ward 3: A task force engaging in youth athletics should bring together a breadth of expertise, experiences, and voices. I believe this group should include those who create and maintain the space and opportunity for youth athletics to exist and flourish and who operationalize programming. Most importantly, however, this type of task force must include students and their perspectives. At the end of the day, the goal is to provide them with an improved youth athletics infrastructure, so we should be excited to hear directly from them. From the onset, the task force ought to seek exploratory feedback from students and families, so that they may gain a deeper understanding of the current state of youth athletics and the gaps that have determined a need for a task force in the first place. By gauging interests via surveys and listening sessions and following up with evaluative processes, the task force would be better equipped to make sustainable decisions – ones that ensure youth athletics and resulting pipelines are intelligently designed for our students.
Girouard, Ward 8: There is no doubt there is a decline in students participating in high school sports.Altgough I feel the competition of club teams is high The fact that we are not playing in the Pioneer Valley any longer discourages some of the less skilled players to lose out. When kids are younger, they play at the city level and to me there is a big gap between city and club. Also, many of these club teams travel hours on end to attend games or some of the families just don’t have the capability of getting their kids to these games
Lamothe, Ward 7: I support a task force to explore the shrinking numbers of school age kids playing sports. I believe that the Parks Department should chair the team. Many of the groups that sponsored teams have dissolved. Many of the churches that sponsored teams have been closed. Gone with these organizations are their equipment and coaches. Perhaps we should poll the families to see if there is an interest.
Nembirkow, At-Large: Student participation in sports, music, band, the arts and other extracurricular activities is vitally important to engaging students and creating a strong school community. Numerous studies show that student participation in activities is linked to higher attendance and an increase in grades and educational goals. Student-athletes also develop life skills including accountability, communication, responsibility, time management, commitment and teamwork. Chicopee has always prioritized extracurricular programs by not charging a participation fee, and I am glad to see the current committee continues to focus on student activities by studying participation levels. The issue facing this task force is to determine the factors that have caused reduced participation in athletics, and what steps should the district take to engage students and increase participation. The athletic task force is a good opportunity for the district to bring together an informed group of stakeholders that have a diverse commitment to our students. To support my fellow school committee members in shaping the task force I would recommend definitive timelines and expectations and allow task force members to use its knowledge and expertise to provide answers, options, and remedies consistent with the timeline and desired outcomes. Increased participation may hinge on expanding after school transportation or providing more information to students on what activities are available. Create an Athletic Step-up program or Athletic Outreach Program, where High School students speak with lower grades about how great the programs are at CHS/CCHS.
Peret, Ward 4: The task force should have representatives that are involved with the youth in the city. The representatives should include, the Chicopee Boys and Girls Club, city youth sporting groups, parents of athletes and non-athletes, student athletes and non-athletes, the Park Department, the Chicopee Public Schools’ Athletic Director, a member from the city-wide PTO, and school committee representation. Perhaps the school district could survey the students and parents about sport participation and non-participation to have a baseline for the sports that the youth want to see in the city as well as to learn why the decline in participation. The Student Advisory Committee can assist with the survey as an education project (the SAC was effective with a remote learning survey during the 2019-2020 school year).
Schofield, Ward 5:As a parent of sons who have always played youth sports, I witnessed firsthand the life skills they learned being involved on a team. Don Cahoot, former head coach of the UMass hockey team, left a lasting impression on me as the keynote speaker at a banquet. He shared how studies have shown that the development from playing sports goes beyond learning physical skills. He stressed sports can foster an individual’s development of better coping strategies with life’s challenges. Active participation in sports will enable children to learn how to control their emotions and channel negative feelings in a positive way. I would suggest shaping a task force which included participation at all ages, asking for self-nominations from a diverse group of parents, educators and community members. This could include a drop-in clinic where potential participants ask questions, try equipment and discuss the value of team sports, as well, as the commitment.
Shumsky, Ward 6: I would follow the course the athletic director has taken by including coaches, parks department, sport leagues, and most importantly students. I would also make sure students understand the importance of youth sports building a community within the school and a sense of pride and belonging among team members. This is a community issue, and we need community involvement to find a solution in order to keep youth sports sustainable. I would review what the task force proposes and take their recommendations seriously and wholeheartedly. The school committee should continue to fully fund sports programs. I would be opposed to any sports user fee as that would decrease participation especially amongst struggling families.
Szetela Lopes, At-Large: Growing up in the Burnett Road area as a child, we were Ward 6ers to the end! It was so much fun playing soccer, basketball and softball. Mr. Foley, Mr. Stanton, and so many more coaches shaped our lives for years to come. Oh, and don't forget about Mrs. Fimbel! We loved them all. I see our school system making all kinds of efforts to keep our students continually interested in sports. I see the money we invest in clothing for our players with school emblems, tons of equipment, referees and umpires, police duty, coaches’ salaries, busing, and the list goes on. Sports are responsible for keeping many of our students engaged in school. Chicopee has a dedicated Athletic Director that truly cares about our kids. I have met with Mr. Mackin and emailed him on several occasions. He has a great staff. These men and women work every day recruiting and maintaining student athletes. These coaches encourage good grades, good conduct, and good morale amongst team members. We are fortunate to have all of them. Let's continue all the work that is being done.
Wagner, Ward 1:I understand the concerns, and I am aware of the benefits youth sports programs provide to communities like Chicopee. Since this task force will be looking at participation in youth sports, it should be expanded to include the city council, as the school committee does not have jurisdiction over these programs. The parks department runs the youth sports programs, and they are under the purview of the city council. I think that there are many challenges faced by a city like Chicopee that affect participation in youth sports programs. Some students may face challenges with regards to transportation, the need to work and provide an income for their families, and potentially, a decrease in interest in youth and high school sports. It would also be interesting to determine whether the advent of so many sports travel teams has impacted participation at the high school level. As Mr. Barsalou recently pointed out, times and mentalities are changing, and many kids would instead go home and play video games. We now live in an age where one esports event can garner more viewership and attention than many traditional sporting events. Again, too, we have to take COVID into account. I think we will see an uptick in youth and high school sports participation again once things settle down. However, we must accept that those participation numbers won't look like they did twenty-five or fifty years ago. This is simply the way the world is now.
RP:?What are the top three most pressing issues facing Chicopee schools right now, and how would you address those issues?
Barsalou, Ward 2: 1. Addressing the social and emotional needs of students affected by the pandemic. After many months of learning remotely, kids are physically back in the classroom. We have no idea how our kids will adapt and have to be extra vigilant in meeting all of their needs. Students may feel anxious, or depressed as they try to catch up on materials that may not have been previously covered. It is important that all students are given the opportunity for extra help and tutoring to help them get back on track. 2. Staff morale is at an all-time low. It is imperative that all educators work in a stress-free environment conducive to teaching and learning. Trust must be rebuilt between administration and teachers to move forward. 3. We must increase parental involvement. On many occasions parents have been cut out of the decision-making process. A more conscientious effort must be made to involve them. I received numerous calls from homeowners and taxpayers who feel their children's needs were not being met... Or concerns ignored even after repeated inquiries. This cannot be allowed to persist in the Chicopee Public Schools.
DePaula, Ward 3:The most immediate issue, which I covered in the first question, is employee retention. Our staff are the backbone of the school system – without them, the operation cannot persist, or would at the very least be severely hindered. Chicopee must do better in this area. Our staff are leaving because other districts are willing to put their money where their mouths are, while we fall behind and lose invaluable talent. A second issue is a diversity and disparity, especially given the pandemic and its short and long-term impacts on students. The flurry of published research in this area has given us all much to think about. Just this month, researchers have indicated that the pandemic has “increased stress on some of our most vulnerable youth, likely prolonging their disadvantages in school” (George, Dilworth-Bart, and Herring, 2021). These stressors disproportionately impact mental health and educational achievement in low-SES students, compared to their high-SES counterparts. Conscientious decision-making around this issue is essential, and the school system must work to offset the hardships faced by so many students however possible. I am also concerned with modernizing our schools – our technologies, buildings, and everything in between. This is a pressing issue in that we should actively work to stay ahead of the curve with improving the technology available to students and staff, while maintaining safe, engaging, and attractive spaces. Our technologies and buildings vary throughout the city, so we must be doubly concerned with ensuring disparities between any two schools are lessened and never widened.
Girouard, Ward 8: The number one concern to me in the school system best to ensure the safety of each and every staff member and student that enters the building. Unfortunately, Covid still has not gone away. This is still a major concern. The lack of cafeteria help is a major concern. In many buildings we are short-staffed and are trying every day to employ more people so that the working conditions are ideal for everyone involved. I have been in the food industry for 30 years now and this has always been one of Major issues not just of the food service but every industry The other major issue would be transportation We currently have a major shortage of bus drivers that can transport kids to and from school or after school activities such as sporting events.
Lamothe, Ward 7: I see are the academic and social emotional wellbeing of the students after such a long period of disruption during the pandemic as an area of concern. Resources will need to be addressed to these areas. I see a need for facilities upgrades like the replacement of Barry School to a facility that would address the lack of handicap access, and improve ventilation and energy issues troubling that building. Redistricting the school districts is another priority for me. All the children that would have attended the long-closed Chapin School in Willimansett are bussed to Fairview Memorial School. The children in Fairview Memorial's neighborhood are bussed to Streiber. I believe that children who live across the street from a school shouldn't have to take a bus to another. I'd also like to balance the enrollment between buildings.
Nembirkow, At-Large: Public education is facing many pressing issues from the revision of the state funding formula, the increasing number of special needs students, fighting the state legislature to fully fund special education (something the state and the funding formula has never done), to dealing with outdated building and failing infrastructure. The list of critical issues is extensive; however, in the immediate term I see three issues that will need to be delt with sooner rather than later. First, COVID-19 will likely continue to be an issue for years to come. As a school administrator and an attorney, I understand the issues, evaluate options, and will make balanced, productive decisions that protect health and safety and move the district on a sustainable path toward regular operations. Second, learning loss under remote learning must be addressed. There is considerable funding to implement creative solutions. Having over twenty years of expertise in both school operations and school funding, I am able to provide insights and input into strategies that will have sustainable results in mitigating learning loss. Finally, school funding is an issue that touches every aspect of the Chicopee Public Schools; from hiring staff to HVAC issues. The State has never fully funded school districts and under the current funding formula, those with the greatest need are provided with the least funding. With my expertise in school funding and the state funding formula, I will advocate at all levels for full school funding, increased grant funding and increased aid to help alleviate Chicopee specific extraordinary expenses.
Peret, Ward 4: The top three issues facing the Chicopee Public Schools are: 1) staff retention 2) building maintenance and plans for the aging school buildings 3) maintaining, supporting and perhaps expanding the counseling and mental health services in the system. The COVID-19 Pandemic created isolation and perhaps loss of family and friends with the virus. The past year was a distinct change for our students and our staff. We need to provide all the necessary resources for the students and the staff to be successful.
Schofield, Ward 5: Important issues facing Chicopee schools are the well-being of students, equity of enrichment classes at all schools and the infrastructure of buildings. I propose gathering facts to be presented to the school committee for evaluation so working together we can create innovative solutions.
Shumsky, Ward 6: The top three most pressing issues facing Chicopee Schools are: (1) Decreasing COVID Infections and maintaining in person learning; (2) Funding programs, learning experiences, and innovation in the district; and (3) Increasing student performance. Decreasing COVID infections requires Personal Protective Equipment, Quarantine of infected students and staff, and increasing vaccination to those eligible to receive. A healthy school environment is important, and I would work with the administration and health department to follow all recommendations and health protocols required. I feel it is very important to remain in person learning because it is vital to emotional and physical well-being. To increase school funding, I would stress looking and researching grants which will take the burden off the taxpayer. There are grants for new programs like STEAM LABS which provide hands on learning experiences in fields where there is high demand for skills and jobs. Another area of focus is Career Technical Education where I would strongly advocate for new programs in HVAC and Plumbing. There are opportunities in these career paths available and students are interested in these fields. We need innovations to keep students engaged and to keep our district competitive. Our students’ performance is important, and I want all students to succeed in their area of interest. The staff is constantly working to increase MCAS performance, and I would encourage review of data and learning interventions for our district to succeed. The school committee needs to provide the resources through the budget or grants to fund improvement.
Szetela Lopes, At-Large: Let's get the Teachers Contract settled, and all the other Units will hopefully settle as well. A coming together of all the School Committee Members, new and veteran, come January 2022, to work for the betterment of our students. The third pressing issue is to make sure that our whole staff knows they are appreciated and valued. Superintendent Lynn Clark has worked faithfully towards that since early 2020. We as a school district know we need our hard-working educators and food service workers and maintenance workers and paraprofessionals and bus monitors and administrators and clerks. They are all instrumental in enriching our students lives.
Wagner, Ward 1: Among the three most pressing issues I see facing Chicopee Schools, I think the biggest has to be the quality of our school buildings. Over the last couple of years, they have had tens of thousands of dollars of work done to get them ready so that students and staff could safely be sent back into them. Even after all of that renovation and repair, some of the buildings weren't ready when they had to be and still need to have more maintenance done. I want to see a building study commissioned that looks at enrollment trends, air quality, and many other factors. I want to find out what buildings we should keep and which ones we could consolidate into new facilities. Our students and staff deserve to go to school and work in places that aren't run down and falling apart. Aside from that, I think the lack of a mandatory financial literacy class in high schools is only proving detrimental to our students. I'll work with the superintendent and high school building principals to design and implement a program that will prepare students with real-world money management skills. The last big issue I see is the MCAS being a requirement to graduate. One test should not determine if you graduate. Massachusetts happens to be one of only a handful of states that imposes this as a graduation requirement. I'll work with our state legislative delegation to get legislation passed that removes this antiquated requirement.
Reminder Publishing reached out to Ronald J. Benard but did not receive a response by press time.