CHICOPEE – The Chicopee School Committee met to discuss a growing number of resignations in the Chicopee Public School System due to allegations of teacher mistreatment on July 21.

David Barsalou, School Committee member for Ward 2, spoke on frequent phone calls he has received from Chicopee educators who have been afraid to speak out about their mistreatment in fear of “vengeful retaliation.”

According to Barsalou, he received word that some principals and administrators have used the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to “justify mean-spirited and punitive practices, creating a hostile work environment.”

Barsalou added, “Their actions include implied threats to outright intimidation. A large number of resignations are a direct indication of this. I will no longer stand silent while such egregious administrative abuses are being tolerated in our city schools. Morale is at the lowest point ever.”

Barsalou directly spoke to Superintendent Lynn Clark when he said Chicopee Public Schools are seeing “poor management skills.” According to Barsalou, Clark reported only 15 grievances this past year, but there would have been many more had principals not “resorted to threats and bullying which kept, and still keep, the staff members in fear of losing their jobs if they speak out.”

Barsalou went as far as to call Chicopee a “seriously dysfunctional school district.”

He said that he has never seen this many teachers leaving their positions, retirement pensions and benefits to move to other districts before.

“Ms. Clark, during your time as superintendent, I have watched the Chicopee Public Schools devolve into something barely recognizable. As the superintendent, you are ultimately responsible for perpetuating this toxic and poisonous environment. Awarding positions based upon nepotism and favoritism and not experience have also contributed to the ongoing problems and poor morale,” said Barsalou.

During public input, School Committee Student Representative Tim Wagner offered his support for Clark.

“Superintendent Clark, in my opinion, has been nothing but an asset to the Chicopee Public School System. As the student representative on the School Committee, I never once had an issue reaching out to her with regards to obtaining information about a certain process and how the schools work or to ask a question about a specific policy,” said Wagner. “I think that she has done a fantastic job, especially in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. I can’t imagine the struggle that she, and you as well Mayor [John] Vieau, have gone through working to keep our public school systems up and running. I think you’ve both done a tremendous job at that.”

Later in the meeting, the topic of Clark’s evaluation was discussed. Clark was appointed superintendent in February 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, schools shut down in March and remained closed in some capacity through February 2021. This prevented Clark from having a formal evaluation.

Members of the committee discussed looking forward now to figure out how and when to do her evaluation. According to Clark herself, an official evaluation would not be able to be done until next year. She said this is because the deadline to submit intent was June 30.

“If we were to do one right now it would be considered for next year because it’s after June 30,” said Clark.

Some members of the committee seemed upset by this fact.

“I’m just being honest. Pandemic, change in evaluation… that’s what it is. I certainly am not hiding, I’ll be very open and transparent as well,” added Clark.

School Committee member Donald Lamothe spoke on getting the evaluation started as quickly as possible, especially after what Barsalou read into the record earlier.

“I feel that we should do an evaluation in light of what was read into the record tonight,” said Lamothe. “It would give you at least an idea of where your strengths and weaknesses are, as viewed by us.”

Clark agreed and the evaluation process will continue to be looked into by the School Committee.

Despite Chicopee Public Schools seeing an increase in resignations this year, Clark said that they have already put out job listings and are trying to get positions filled as quickly as possible. She said that, in past years, jobs are usually posted in August and not July.

Those interested in viewing the School Committee Meeting in its entirety are encouraged to visit the ChicopeeTV Facebook page.