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Date: 11/9/2022
CHICOPEE – Ward 3 School Committee member Saulo DePaula will no longer be serving on Chicopee’s School Committee after resigning from his seat. The city is now actively accepting applicants from the Ward 3 community to replace DePaula.
Mayor and School Committee Chairperson John Vieau announced the departure during the committee’s Nov. 2 meeting, explaining that DePaula has moved out of Chicopee.
“Ward 3 School Committee member Saulo DePaula has resigned. He has moved out of the city,” said Vieau.
During the conclusion of the School Committee’s Oct. 19 meeting, DePaula explained the development.
“It’s very bittersweet to announce that my family and I are very likely to be moving out of the city of Chicopee by the end of the month … I’ve been in communication with the mayor and the superintendent about this, so this may or may not be my last meeting,” said DePaula.
This is the second time since the start of 2021 that the Ward 3 seat has been vacated. In July 2021, former Ward 3 School Committee member Marjorie Wojcik withdrew her papers for re-election and announced her retirement after serving on the committee for 36 years.
“I’d like to thank Marjorie Wojcik for all her years in service, her dedication to the city of Chicopee and to the School Committee. She’s been an advocate for students for probably her entire life, and it’s something she should be very proud of,” said Vieau in reflection of Wojcik’s announcement.
The School Committee and City Council gathered on Sept. 7, 2021, to name Wojcik’s replacement. With DePaula representing the only remaining Ward 3 School Committee candidate on the 2021 election ballot, the committees voted unanimously to appoint DePaula to the position.
In the wake of DePaula’s departure, the School Committee will be undergoing its B6 policy – which convenes the School Committee and City Council together for a joint convention to select a new Ward 3 School Committee representative.
“This has triggered us to start the process … If there is more than one person interested, we could provide each of the candidates with an opportunity to speak for a limited period before the joint convention,” said Vieau.
The vacancy will be addressed from a majority vote between the two bodies if there is more than one candidate. Ward 3 residents interested in applying are asked to send letters of interest to MayorsOffice@ChicopeeMA.gov or contact the superintendent’s office.
Vieau aspires for the city to address the vacancy in three weeks, with expectations that the joint convention will occur on the week of Nov. 28. The timeline is set so that the position can be filled before the committee begins interviewing candidates for the city’s ongoing superintendent search.
“We will fulfill the seat before we start the interview process as a committee,” said Vieau.
Reminder Publishing reached out to DePaula but he did not respond by press time.
The School Committee will meet again on Nov. 16.