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Date: 10/26/2021
CHICOPEE – Updates to the district’s finances were examined during the Chicopee School Committee meeting on Oct. 20.
Chicopee School’s Director of Budget and Finance John Miarecki presented the updates. In regard to grants, Miarecki revealed that the district has received a combined $39,457,000 to implement improvements across the district. “We have a lot of good things going on in Chicopee. It has a lot to do with the monies that we have received and will receive from grants,” said Miarecki.
The district has received grants from federal organizations like the International Development Association, the Perkins Collaborative Resource Network and the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) programs. Miarecki explained that a third iteration of the ESSER grant has been finalized and sent for approval. He also revealed $202,000 has been generated from state grants while private grants account for $35,500.
Miarecki also spoke about pending grants submitted by Grants Manager Kristopher J. Theriault. Along with $190,000 in pending grants, the budget director shared that Theriault is preparing to submit for $652,000 in grant funds. Among the conceptualized submissions is a food insecurity infrastructure grant that could add up to $500,000 toward the city.
In regard to the schools budget, Miarecki reiterated that the district continues to be fiscally responsible with its decision making while still searching for improvements. “There’s always many things we can do to try and improve. There’s some ideas we are working on right now to improve work efficiencies here in Chicopee,” said Miarecki.
The School Committee also met with the Student Advisory Council about ongoing topics in schools. Advisory Council member Natalie Maldonado spoke to the committee about concerns with the school’s dress code. “The Chicopee Public School’s district dress code has caused an abundance of students to come forward to voice their concerns about how this policy has been implemented and enforced,” said Maldonado. She detailed how the dress code’s restrictions have caused a disruption in the school’s learning environment.
Maldonado said the dress code has disproportionately targeted people of color and plus-sized students. Assistant Superintendent Alvin Morton shared that he met with the council a week prior to the meeting, with the members presenting sample policies from other districts to back up their claims. Ward 6 School Committee member Susan Ann Szetela Lopes suggested the item to the policy subcommittee for discussion, which was approved by the committee.
The Chicopee School Committee will meet again on Nov. 3.