Chicopee to offer 31 school‑choice seats in grades 1–5; kindergarten not opened for choice

The Chicopee School Committee voted on April 2 to offer 31 school‑choice seats in grades 1 through 5 for the 2025–26 school year, continuing a limited participation strategy that excludes kindergarten and secondary grades.

Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Belleville told the committee the district has been limiting school choice to elementary grades while it strengthens middle‑ and high‑school horizontal and vertical alignment. She said kindergarten numbers are unusually high and unpredictable; the administration recommended not offering kindergarten school‑choice seats because several existing kindergarten classes already have 23–25 students.

Belleville said the district had 87 school‑choice students at the end of 2023–24 and 84 currently enrolled; 13 of the enrolled students are seniors. The district accepted only two new school‑choice students this year because last year it offered just 22 slots in grades 1–5. The administration recommended increasing available slots to 31 this year but keeping offers restricted to elementary grades.

John Mieracki, the district’s director of budget and finance, reviewed the school‑choice revolving account. He reported a current balance of about $1.4 million (including receipts during the year) and an expected inflow that would bring an estimated $1.961 million by the end of FY26 if current monthly receipts continue. Mieracki said the district is not planning to spend school‑choice revolving funds in FY26 and that the account does not have the strict spending restrictions that some other education funds do.

Belleville also summarized where inbound and outbound school‑choice students come from and go to: the largest inbound cohort is from Springfield; other sending towns include Granby, Holyoke, South Hadley, Ware and Westfield. The district sends students out to charter and virtual schools as well; she named Greater Commonwealth Virtual School and Connection Academy among common destinations.

The committee approved the 31 slots by roll call (11 yes, 0 no). The motion was offered to continue participation in the state school‑choice program and to set the number of seats for grades 1–5.