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Date: 12/22/2021
CHICOPEE – The cancelation of a Chicopee Comprehensive High School field trip to Europe caused uproar during the Dec. 1 School Committee meeting, with the committee discussing ways to potentially reimburse families during their Dec. 15 meeting.
The item was presented by Ward 7 Committee Member Donald Lamothe, who inquired with the city about how families can be repaid for the cancellation if its possible. In his motion, Lamothe advocated for $500 to be reimbursed to students. Director of Budget and Finance for Chicopee Schools John Miarecki said he spoke to City Solicitor Marshall T. Moriarty about the cancellation and its impacts.
“I asked if the School Committee can make payments for the financial loss participants incurred using money from the general funds,” said Miarecki. After discussion, Miarecki and the city’s legal department concluded that there was no contract connecting the school department to the privately-funded trip.
“Even if it was authorized by the School Committee, it does not carry with it legal authority to pay anyone for anything. There would have to be a contract to do so,” said Miarecki. Lamothe said while he believes not reimbursing is wrong, he would not contest the legality of the situation.
Ward 1 Committee Member James Tanhauser Jr. and Ward 3 Councilor Saulo Depaula advocated for the city to find an avenue to pay families even if they are not legally bound to reimbursing. “Personally, I think we as the School Committee should do everything to pay, not reimburse, these families for the money they lost. It’s not their fault they are experiencing this loss,” said Depaula, who stressed the committee should be “bending over backwards” to aid the constituents.
Chicopee Mayor John Vieau clarified that paying families for the cancellation can not occur during the meeting as it would require a new motion to be placed on the agenda. “Since there were no payments made to the city of Chicopee, there would not be any way of reimbursing money we have never received. These would not be called reimbursements per say,” said Vieau.
The item was ultimately withdrawn, with Lamothe saying he will discuss with the city’s auditor avenues for paying families.
Change in Committee Members
The Dec. 15 meeting marked the last meeting for Tanhauser, Ward 5 Committee Member Deborah Styckiewicz, Ward 8 Committee member David Schryver and Ward 9 Committee member Mary Elizabeth Pniak-Costello. None of the committee members sought a re-election bid for their positions, with Pniak-Costello securing the Ward 9 City Council seat instead.
The departing School Committee members reflected on their time on the committee. “It’s been a privilege and an honor to live out a decade-long goal to serve my city and community. I was very blessed and honored to do that,” said Tanhauser, who served Ward 1 for two terms.
In their place, Timothy Wagner will be taking over as Ward 1 committee member, Grace Schofield will be the Ward 5 committee member, Samuel Shumsky is assuming the Ward 6 committee member position and Ronald J. Benard will be the new Ward 9 committee member. Former committee member at-large Douglas Girouard will be moving to the Ward 8 position.
The School Committee will meet again on Jan. 5, 2022.