CHICOPEE – The Chicopee School Department is gearing up to embrace a full-time superintendent by the end of the 2022-2023 school year. During the School Committee’s July 20 meeting, Mayor John Vieau laid out his plans for the superintendent search committee.

“We are making progress in our superintendent search. Right now, we are putting together the committee,” said Vieau. The School Committee appointed Assistant Superintendent Alvin Morton as interim superintendent shortly after the arrest of former superintendent Lynn Clark in April.

The superintendent search committee will consist of Vieau, School Committee Vice Chair Susan Szetela-Lopes, Chicopee Education Association President Laura Demakis, two school administrators, two school staff members, two parents, two community representatives and three additional members of the School Committee.

Vieau shared that residents interested in serving on the committee can send a letter to his office. Residents can submit their letter to superintendentsearch@cpsge.org. All letters are due by Aug. 10 at 4 p.m.

“We’ll be trying to get that out throughout the entire community. Certainly, hiring a new superintendent is very important and we want to make sure we do it right. We are also taking guidance from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees,” said Vieau.

Some of the superintendent search committee members will be selected on a lottery basis, such as if more than three School Committee members apply to be on the committee. Vieau explained that the decision was made to ensure a fair process.

“That’s the process…I believe the fairest way would be by a lottery. I am not going to pick and choose members of the School Committee over each other,” said Vieau. After receiving all interested submissions, Vieau will conduct the lottery on Aug. 18 before announcing the official committee.

A few members of the School Committee aired grievances with the planned process. Ward 1 School Committee member Timothy Wagner questioned why this process was not brought to the committee before being enacted upon, while Ward 9 School Committee member Ronald Bernard spoke against the lottery selection process.

“I don’t think that would make sense when we are having an important search like this,” said Bernard.

Vieau assured the School Committee members that the process will create a diverse group that will represent every facet of Chicopee. Ward 7 School Committee member Donald Lamothe also backed the mayor’s stance, stating that the superintendent search committee plans are similar to years prior.

“It’s very similar to what we’ve done in the past,” said Lamothe.
The superintendent search committee will ultimately select the finalists for the position. The superintendent selection will then be made by the School Committee. Going forward, Vieau expects the committee process to deliver positive results.

“The intent is to create a committee where everyone has a voice…we feel that this is a large enough group and they will hopefully meet the expectations of this school board and our district,” said Vieau.
The Chicopee School Committee will meet again on Aug. 17.