Chicopee School Committee discusses fund approvals, policy reviews

Nov. 23, 2020 | Carolyn Noel
carolynn@thereminder.com

CHICOPEE – The Chicopee School Committee met on Nov. 18 to discuss updates on fund approvals,  transportation agreements, remote learning, governor’s orders and air quality reports.

To start the meeting, Mayor John Vieau encouraged local students and residents to get their flu shots. He said that the Walgreens in Chicopee is offering free flu shot clinics for any student enrolled in Chicopee Public Schools. According to Vieau, the state is recommending that anyone three years of age or older get the shot. Vieau also informed the public that older adults are able to get free flu shots at area Stop & Shops.

“I think it’s important at this time of uncertainty that most consider getting this flu shot,” he said.

Superintendent Lynn A. Clark also informed viewers of the meeting that there will be new food pick-up times for those in need of a meal. From 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. daily there will be early pick-up at Bowe Elementary School and Chicopee High School. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. there will be pick-up at Barry, Boewe, Dupont, Fairview, Lambert, Litwin, and Stefanik schools. Later pick-up will also be occurring from 4 p.m to 6 p.m. at Chicopee High and Chicopee Comp.

The meeting then touched on the FY 2021 State Budget. Updates were given by Director of Budget and Finance John Miarecki. According to Miarecki there has been progress in finalizing this budget and, so far, there is really no change to the Chapter 7 sum of money that Chicopee receives. The House budget has been finalized as of last week. Next, it will go to the senate to be debated, then it will be sent to the Conference Committee who will come to its final conclusion. The governor then has 10 days to review the budget and then it will either be vetoed or approved to go forward for FY 2021.

Funds were also discussed during the meeting’s first order of new business. The committee moved that a bill totaling $460,647.09 be approved. This bill consisted of funds towards maintaining and improving areas of schools such as funding athletics, food services, maintenance, special education, utilities and more.

The second readings of many policies were also reviewed during the committee meeting. The policy on animals in school was updated based on a recommendation from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. The policy on a drug-free workplace is required by federal law and was recently reviewed and updated for the first time since 2003. The health education policy was condensed from two different policies into one to make the policy manual less cumbersome and user–friendly, according to the committee. The home education policy has been in place for a number of years and was recently updated.

Both the alternative school program policy and the homework policy had only minor word changes. The remote learning policy is new this year due to COVID-19 and gives guidelines to the school district when it comes to being remote. The policy on hazing and the policy on student photographs were only updated minimally. The policy on immunizations was amended to add that, in light of COVID-19, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is requiring students to get flu vaccines. All of the updated policies were approved by the committee.

The committee also talked about an added amendment to Chicopee Schools transportation contract. The contract had to be changed due to the fact that there aren’t as many buses needed right now. The updated contract brings Chicopee Schools down to 75 percent of their typical payments to the bus company, which is a savings of about $8,346 a day. If remote learning ends up continuing for the rest of the year, the contract can be negotiated again to add another amendment. This will ensure that there will be drivers when they are ready to roll buses out again.

Clark also provided an update on remote learning. She reported that many more students are engaged in remote learning now than they were in the spring. Schools also work to track down students who don’t attend class regularly or are missing assignments to make sure they get help and stay on track. Clark said that average daily attendance is about 92 percent of students. She mentioned that there is some frustration from teachers over getting students to stay on for full class sessions, but they are working to improve this.

“It certainly comes with challenges. I can’t say that it’s flawless, but teachers are working extremely hard. They’re being creative, they’re using a lot of different platforms, a lot of different modes of instruction to keep students engaged.”

Clark emphasized how she hopes that students will be able to return to schools as soon as possible, but that right now it is unsafe to do so.

“I still stand behind the statement that nothing will replace in-person learning,” she said. “Unfortunately right now in Chicopee, it is not safe, but we are hoping that very soon it is,” she said.

An update on the indoor air-quality within Chicopee schools was also discussed. Ventilation and air quality is being addressed by the Chicopee School District and an air quality study has already been done, according to the director of facilities. It is currently a work in progress, but steps are being made in all classrooms. The committee touched on one point that the necessary HEPA filtration systems are very loud when running. Some teachers have expressed worry that this will hinder classroom teaching. Talks of student headphone or teacher microphone use are also a possibility in the future. Air quality checks and studies will now have more time to be done due to open classrooms because of remote learning.

Should a resident wish to view the entirety of the School Committee Meeting, they can view it on the Chicopee TV Facebook Page.

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