Teachers, paraprofessionals press Chicopee School Committee on pay, staffing and retention

Public commenters at the June 18 Chicopee School Committee meeting urged elected members to address pay, staffing and working conditions as multiple bargaining agreements approached expiration.

Speakers representing classroom and support staff described low morale, recruitment difficulties and a high number of job postings. They urged the committee to prioritize contract settlements that they said could stem staff departures.

Ben Eisen, a high school science teacher, told the committee, “By super majority, more than 2 thirds of this committee voted for a robust budget,” and said that a unilateral change in the city’s appropriation had undercut the committee’s earlier decision and prolonged collective-bargaining uncertainty. He warned the committee that “it feels like we were close” to settlements and that three bargaining units’ contracts were expiring in 12 days.

Other educators described classrooms where time is consumed managing behavior, paraprofessionals leaving because of low pay, and teachers declining to reapply. Bellamy Middle School teacher Lauren Garlet read comments from colleagues reporting verbal abuse from students and uneven administrative support; Stefanik Elementary third‑grade teacher Victoria Wonka said a paraprofessional retired and that vacancies were not being filled because of low wages.

Administration staff later gave a personnel update: HR Director Deb Green reported seven new hires (mostly food service), 16 resignations, five retirements and 125 active job postings as of the meeting. Superintendent Dr. Patrick Ware read the retirees’ names and service lengths; retirees named in the meeting included Carol Kurzel (school psychologist, 20 years, 8 months) and Tina Prefontaine (STEAM teacher, 35 years).

Why it matters: the personnel numbers and public testimony underscore district concerns about retention and recruitment. Committee members and administrators acknowledged the short-term pressures and said the revised FY26 budget was designed to avoid layoffs, while many speakers argued that higher recurring salaries are needed to reverse attrition.

What the committee did: no new bargaining contracts were approved at the meeting. Members accepted the personnel report and heard public comment. The committee later adopted the FY26 budget; both the budget debate and public comments referenced pay and staffing as central issues for the district’s future.

What’s next: educators, union leaders and the administration said they expected bargaining to continue over the summer. Committee members asked for more frequent personnel and hiring updates to track vacancy and recruitment trends.