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Date: 5/4/2022
CHICOPEE – The School Committee’s Finance Subcommittee and the district’s administration team continued discussions around the fiscal year 2023 (FY23) budget during their April 11 meeting.
The two sides originally met on March 21 to understand the background of the school’s budget. Acting Superintendent Alvin Morton, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Accountability Matthew Francis and Director of Budget and Finance John Miarecki continue to lead the discussion as representatives of the school department.
After addressing yearly changes and the implementation of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds in their first meeting, the two sides focused on the implementation of the schools’ remaining balance. Morton detailed the department’s focus on addressing new hires within the district, including an available vice principal position at Belcher Elementary School.
Morton also discussed the district’s expansion of preschool (pre-k) programing to Belcher and Fairview Elementary schools. With both schools recently opening the pre-k registration process, Morton shared that district is hiring a teacher and two paraprofessionals for each new classroom.
“We’re trying to have a model throughout the district: one teacher and two paraprofessionals for every preschool classroom within the district,” said Morton, who shared that the new preschool programs are a part of the city’s Student Opportunity Act plan.
The acting superintendent stressed the district continues to even out staffing across the schools, particularly between Dupont Middle School and Bellamy Middle School. “When we redistricted between the middle schools, we never moved any staff, so we are trying to even out the staffs,” said Morton.
Morton shared that the district is incorporating a new drafting teacher to Chicopee Comprehensive High School’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. “The drafting numbers are going up, so we are trying to prepare for that particular piece,” said Morton.
The school district is also adding a director of instructional technology to the district’s administrative staff. “At times, a lot of our instructional materials are electronic and/or online. We want to make sure we stay up front and be creative and innovative with the technologies that are now being put out there,” said Morton.
Morton and his staff also discussed other miscellaneous budget items, such as the school district’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) labs and the monetary effects of school choice.