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Date: 6/27/2023
CHICOPEE — In what was interim Superintendent Alvin Morton’s final meeting with the Chicopee School Committee, he provided an overview of the fiscal year 2024 districtwide budget.
He explained that Gov. Maura Healey’s FY24 Foundation Budget was released on March 1, with Chicopee Public Schools receiving $122.7 million. Morton said this is an increase of $9.7 million from FY23.
“In FY24, our city contribution increased by $1.7 million, and our Chapter 70 was increased by $8 million. However, our low-income percentage moved from 71% to 73%, which kept us in [the] 11% decile,” shared Morton.
In FY24, the foundation budget per student amount is $17,122. In FY23, this number was $15,675 and in FY22, $14,280.
At the time the report was run, Morton said the district had 6,796 students enrolled.
Breaking the budget down by schools, at Barry Elementary School, FY24 salaries total $3.6 million, compared to $3.3 million in FY23 — a 6.2% change. The new hires include one music teacher and one special education inclusion paraprofessional.
Barry’s site budget decreased by 2.25% from FY23 to FY24. Morton explained that the decreases represent where the principals decided to put the money — either in the expense line, general expenses and so on.
At Belcher Elementary School, from FY23 to FY24, salaries increased from $1.9 million to $2.4 million — a 28.49% increase. The site budget also decreased by 6.02% and includes principal expenditures, general supplies and more.
Bowe Elementary School salaries went from $3.4 million to $3.6 million — a 6.87% increase. The three new hires are all regular education paraprofessionals. The site budget decreased by 6.8.%, to which Morton said the principal moved funding to general supplies with an increase of 133.94%.
At Bowie Elementary School, salaries increased from $2.7 million to $3 million — a 12.75% change. Three new hires include one Title I — a specialist working in schools with a high percentage of students from low-income families — reading teacher, one gym teacher, one preschool teacher, one Title I paraprofessional and one regular education paraprofessional. The site budget had a 1.94% increase.
At Lambert-Lavoie Elementary School, salaries increased by 3.5% — from $2.5 million in FY23 to $2.6 million in FY24. The one new hire is an instructional coach, Morton shared. The site budget increased by 5.9%, in teacher professional development, instructional equipment and instructional materials.
Litwin Elementary School salaries increased from $3.3 million to $3.4 million — a 3.8% change. Morton noted that staffing stayed the same and the site budget had a 2.89% increase.
Fairview Elementary School salaries went from $4.4 million in FY23 to $5.4 million in FY24 — a 21.61% change. New hires include one first grade teacher, one special education teacher for the autism spectrum disorder program, one speech-language pathology assistant, one nurse, three special education paraprofessionals, five special education paraprofessionals for the ASD program and one special education paraprofessional for the 18- and 22-year-old program. Fairview’s site budget decreased by 1.26%.
Stefanik Elementary School salaries went from nearly $3 million to $3.6 million — a 20.3% increase. Morton said the school will be getting back one Title I reading teacher since eliminating it before COVID-19. Other new hires include one special education teacher for moderate ASD, one special education teacher for inclusion and seven special education teachers for the ASD program. The site budget increase of 35.11% went into instructional equipment and instructional materials.
Streiber Elementary school salaries increased from $2.78 million to $2.89 — a 3.94% change. New hires include one Title I reading teacher, one English Language Learner teacher, one Title 1 para and one ELL paraprofessional. The site budget increased by 0.20%.
“This is the first year — going into FY24 — that both Streiber and Bowie will be Title I Schools. So now all our elementary schools are Title I schools,” Morton said.
He noted that there are nine Title I elementary schools and two Title I’s on the secondary level including Dupont and Bellamy middle schools.
Szetela School has increased from $2.2 million to $2.9 — a 28.39% change. New hires include one speech language pathologist, one team chair, one preschool teacher and one special education paraprofessional. The site budget decreased by 4.43%.
For the secondary schools, Bellamy Middle School salaries increased from $7.2 million to $8 million — a 11.35% change. The new hires include one curriculum and instructional coordinator, two safety/security personnel, one special education paraprofessional in the extended school day program, one ELL teacher and three paraprofessionals in the ESD program. The site budget decreased by 1.5%.
At Dupont Middle School, salaries increased by 4.94%. In FY23, it was $7.2 million and in FY24, it is $7.6 million. New hires include one curriculum and instructional specialist, two safety personnel, one science teacher, two math teachers, one special education and inclusion teacher and one special education paraprofessional for intensive needs. The site budget increased by 11.52%.
Chicopee Academy salaries increased from $2.9 million to $3.3 million — an 11% change. New hires include two safety/security personnel and one new elective teacher for the cosmetology program that will be starting. The site budget increased by 100.16% which Morton said is for the supplies being purchased for the new programs.
Chicopee High School salaries saw an 11.27% increase from FY23 to FY24 — $8.6 million to $9.6 million. Morton said they are looking to hire two new safety/security personnel, one math teacher, one ELL instructional coach, one criminal justice teacher, one health teacher, one business teacher, one college and career readiness counselor, one ELL teacher, two special education paraprofessionals in ESD program and one special education paraprofessional. The site budget increased by 3.17%.
Chicopee Comprehensive High School salaries increased by 8.73% — going from $9 million to $9.8 million. New hires include two new safety/security personnel, one interventional substance abuse teacher, one math instructional coach, one French teacher, one special education teacher ESD and two special education paraprofessionals for the ESD program. The site budget increased by 3.91%.
The CTE salaries increased by 14.84% — from $1.8 million in FY23 to $2 million in FY24. The site budget was 11.89%.
At the administration building for district wide staff providing services at all 15 schools, there was a 22.67% increase from $4.3 million to $5.3 million. New hires include one clerk for transportation, 15 parent engagement liaisons for the schools and two translators/interpreters. The site budget increased by .12%.
Overall, districtwide salaries increased by 19.73%, from $9.4 million to $11.3 million.
Other expenses districtwide increased by 11.57% — $21 million to $23.5 million.
Telecommunications building salaries increased by 1.89% and the site budget increased by 9.5%.
Morton noted that the budget totals from FY23 to FY24 increased by 12.15%.