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Date: 1/25/2023
CHICOPEE – Chicopee High School Principal Carol Kruser and Chicopee Comprehensive High School Principal Andrew Lamothe presented updates to the School Committee during its Jan. 18 meeting. The informational presentation was a continuation of the committee’s State of Schools series, which takes an analytical look at the status of Chicopee Public Schools.
Kruser spotlighted several new developments for Chicopee High School. Expanding career pathways is one of the high school’s central objectives. Kruser shared that the school offers existing career development courses in criminal justice, business, photojournalism, video and TV production and graphic communication.
“One of the things we’ve been talking about the last few years but is really taking a positive turn is our pathways,” said Kruser.
Other career pathways, such as health and cosmetology, recently received expansions. Chicopee High School opened a new Health Science Academy this year and are expected to construct a Strategic Instruction Model lab in the near future.
Kruser highlighted two career programs that are in the “very beginning stages.” An educational pathway will embed students in Chicopee Public Schools preschool courses, while a hospitality development course offers combined instruction on the culinary arts, business, travel and tourism sectors.
Outside of Chicopee High School exists several other community-based career partnerships, such as a career exploratory program between the school and Porter and Chester Institute.
Another addition for Chicopee High School is a focus on instructional practices.
“We’ve been working on this for the last few years. It’s part of our improvement plan,” said Kruser.
Kruser shared that the school hired Lisa Dieker, a nationally recognized consultant, to help develop intensive and collaboration workshops. Chicopee High School is implementing increased professional development by hiring more special education professionals and offering additional development opportunities for teachers after school and on weekends.
For students, an acceleration academy that takes place during February and April breaks allows students a chance to catch up on education. Mathematics is a significant focus of the academy.
Kruser hopes these measures benefit Chicopee High School’s student population. Currently, 75.9 percent of students are considered high needs. The school was in the mid-60 percentile range before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
“The last few years have been a little rough as you know,” said Kruser.
For Chicopee Comprehensive High School, Lamothe stressed an emphasis on improving school culture. Some of the measures include an attendance initiative that rewards students via a monthly raffle for positive attendance. In cases where students are struggling with consistent attendance, monthly attendance meetings have bene introduced to understand the root cause of the issue.
“We’re trying to see what we can do to get those students to come in [to school],” said Lamothe.
Both measures have helped improve attendance for Chicopee Comprehensive High School. The attendance rate rose from 92.7 percent in 2021-2022 to 93.6 percent this school year.
“Students have been receptive … We have seen an increase in overall attendance rates over the course of the past year,” said Lamothe.
Lamothe viewed the debut of a biliteracy club as another positive development. He aspires for the club to help more students achieve the state seal of biliteracy by taking two years or more of classes in another language.
Last year, only two students tested for the state seal of biliteracy compared to the 22 students that are prepared to test in April. Students are testing in a variety of languages, including Spanish, Chinese and Portuguese.
“It’s something the biliteracy club has played a major part in,” said Lamothe.
Lamothe also highlighted an infrastructure improvement within Chicopee Comprehensive High School. With the inclusion of preschool classrooms in the high school, the school fully renovated its courtyard to accommodate recess breaks for younger students.
“We don’t want to overlook our preschool students … [It’s] a safe and secure place for our preschool kids to play,” said Lamothe.
Chicopee Comprehensive High School is known most notably for its career technical education (CTE) programs. Around 45 percent of the school’s population are currently enrolled in CTE classes, although extensive discussion has occurred around expanding the school’s CTE offerings.
When asked about the possible expansion of CTE programs, Lamothe said the potential growth will take time.
“They are still in the conversational stage, [they are] taking a look at other districts and [see] what seems to be working,” said Lamothe.
Chicopee Comprehensive High School also features a high needs student population of 57.6 percent. Lamothe hopes an emphasis on culture and the hiring of a fourth principal help merge the gap.
Both Lamothe and Kruser also noted that the introduction of Yondr pouches in spring 2022 has gone better than expected. Yondr pouches prevent students from utilizing their phones during class time.
“Everyone’s gotten use to the process at this point,” said Lamothe.
“The engagement in the classroom is so much better and the discipline problems in the classroom are so much better … it’s definitely a positive experience,” said Kruser.
The School Committee will meet again on Feb. 8.