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Date: 8/17/2021
CHICOPEE – Certified signatures for the upcoming Chicopee elections were due on Aug. 3. Both new and returning candidates turned in papers for the At-Large School Committee positions.
On Sept. 21 a preliminary election will be hosted citywide to narrow down the number of candidates running for an At-Large seat with a two-year term. The four-year term seat remains unopposed, with incumbent Chester Szetela running again.
Reminder Publishing reached out to the candidates and asked them to submit an introduction of themselves and why they decided to run or seek re-election in 2021.
Chester Szetela
Four-year At Large
I would like to use my allotted space to introduce myself. I am of a generation that allows me to say I was literally born in Chicopee, and educated in the Chicopee School system. With my wife, Susan, of 60 years we raised our seven children, and they attended both public and private schools. As a family and as individuals, we were long active in schools and community activities.
I worked in public education in both the Chicopee and Springfield public school system in a variety of roles for 40 years. I retired from the Chicopee school system in 1999 and joined the school committee in 2001 as a way to serve the community.
My values and beliefs include the following: Everybody has civil rights. The very youngest to the very oldest and everyone in between. These rights should not be violated. I am fortunate to have a diverse and close family. My sixteen grandchildren are keeping me informed as to the current needs and beliefs of this younger generation. And what I believe most is sticking up for my core values, which include respect for life and valuing the role of education for each and every child.
As a school committee member I have advocated for policies which will improve our schools. Chicopee is a city of hard working people and they deserve to have their tax dollars wisely spent. As a member of the school committee I have supported policies which will improve the lives of our students. I have always strongly advocated for safety in our schools, busing and or walking to and from school. School personnel at every level should be trusted to ensure staff and the student population are safe during their school day.
This recent year involved the health and safety of all involved in the school system - students, teachers and family members. These are extraordinary times. Now more than every our school leaders are called upon to be responsible and effective.
I have been committed to being receptive to learning all sides to every issue that creates school policy. We are a city of many sub cultures and all have a right to be heard. I have demonstrated my seriousness to my responsibilities. I am informed. My attendance at meetings is near perfect. I promptly return phone calls. I have learned how to use a computer, even learning how to zoom!
Thank you for your time. I appreciate your trust and ask for you vote.
Susan Lopes
Two-year At Large
For 25 years, it has been my privilege to serve as a member of the Chicopee School Committee. I work hard at the job, just like I do at my business in the city, Paul Bunyan's Farm. My full-time occupation is growing Christmas Trees. I am a farmer, just like my great Uncle Stanley Bardzik. He farmed on Sheridan Street, not far from where I do now, on Fuller Road. It is a pretty place despite the road construction. (The state is widening the road and putting in sidewalks). I love it when people drive by when I am working in the fields and beep their horns to say hello. It makes me smile!
One of my proudest accomplishments is that I always listen to our families in the city. It is them that I work for. Our families said they wanted the REACH Program (accelerated classes) to continue when the then superintendent wanted it to end. I was the main reason why the Program has continued to this day. I must give credit to all the students and their family members who attended lots of meetings and spoke out! They were great!
An incredible young woman in our city thought it best to offer an American Sign Language Class to her fellow students at the high school level, so boy did she and her family work hard at making that happen. I was involved every step of the way. So was our present superintendent. Thank You Superintendent Lynn Clark. We sure did exchange a ton of emails!
One of the most important projects I worked on for a year was making sure that a Middle School in our city was named after a Chicopee War Hero,1st Sgt. Kevin A. Dupont.
We offer incredible Career Technical Education Classes to the students in our city and I have always supported all of them. My attendance at meetings is excellent. My participation is noticeable. It has been a pleasure to work closely with countless employees over the years to make sure they were treated fairly. Every weekend, I take seriously going over the schools and districts expenditures. My signature is necessary. I answer every phone call, usually that day. I follow through to the end. Some of my favourite days on the job are spent touring our 15 city schools and walking through our classrooms and seeing all the learning that is taking place. Our 7500+ students are dedicated and our staff is hard-working.
It's good reminding people that I am always there for them. Please let me know if I can help. And please Elect me once again to the Chicopee School Committee, Susan Szetela Lopes At-Large. Thank You for getting out and voting for me in the Primary on Tuesday, September 21st. Let's hope for pleasant weather.
Stephen Nembirkow
Two-year At Large
The members of the School Committee make decisions that profoundly affect the success of all our students. As a candidate for School Committee At-Large (2 year-term), I will work collaboratively with my board members and all stakeholders to ensure that every student is educationally equipped to lead a successful life.
I have 20-plus years experience as a public school administrator and previously served over twelve years as the Director of Finance and Human Resources for the Chicopee Public Schools. My wife is a lifelong resident of Chicopee as well as a Chicopee High School graduate. My twin daughters are also graduates of Chicopee High School, and completed college at Bay Path University. I am proud to say both have gone on to lead successful and fulfilling careers. My son attends Chicopee Comprehensive High School and is enrolled in the Career and Technical Education Program. The CTE program is an innovative, state of the art program that offers the students of Chicopee with career opportunities that create success. Frankly, I owe the City of Chicopee and the Chicopee Public Schools a debt of gratitude that I hope to repay by being a strong advocate for the children, parents and community.
Due to my experience as a school administrator, I have had a front row seat to the educational, operational and financial struggles placed on our schools. My twenty plus years as a school administrator, former Chicopee Public Schools administrator and licensed attorney gives me a unique set of skills and experience to help shape policy and provide insight into financial concerns. Throughout my career, I have successfully managed numerous staff and issues in the public school business environment. My main reasons for success has been my ability to work well as a member of a team to accomplish the necessary goals to move the district forward. In addition, I have a broad perspective that includes comprehensive knowledge of the district; an understanding of the budgeting process; an ability to be objective and fair; and an appreciation of the diverse needs of the Chicopee Public Schools and the Chicopee community.
I believe, over the next five years our schools, and all school districts, will face extraordinary pressures both fiscally and operationally as learning loss due to the pandemic will require creative solutions to bridge the learning gap. The pandemic has taken a tremendous social and emotional toll on students, parents, caregivers and staff and will require ongoing strategic planning to deal with COVID’s long term effects on the Chicopee school community.
Despite the challenges ahead, I am committed to cultivating and maintaining cohesive relationships with all stakeholders to achieve common goals. I am a dedicated parent, school administrator, and student advocate. If appointed by the Chicopee community, I look forward to fostering, nurturing and maintaining a safe, positive and respectful learning environment conducive to academic success.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my candidacy, and please remember to Vote in the City Preliminary Elections on September 21, 2021.
Donald Vadnais
Two-year At Large
Reminder Publishing contacted Donald Vadnais and did not receive a submission by deadline.