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Council asks education and public safety committees to review paraprofessional active‑shooter training and school bus cameras
Summary
The council directed the education and public safety subcommittees to examine a lack of active‑shooter training for paraprofessionals and to review the status of school bus camera installations. Councilors urged that training not be optional and requested participation from school leadership and police.
The Chicopee City Council voted to send two items to the education and public safety subcommittees for public hearings: active‑shooter training for paraprofessionals and an update on the status of school bus camera installations.
Councilor Cushing said paraprofessionals currently lack access to required active‑shooter training and urged the committees to invite the superintendent and the police chief to discuss options. “Not only do they actively take the role of a teacher many times, but they're in the school, they're escorting children around, and they aren't actually trained in what to do when this happens,” Cushing said. Several councilors emphasized that training should not be optional and should include custodial staff, receptionists and other frontline employees.
Separately, the council asked for a status report on school bus cameras and directed the same committees to hold a hearing. Councilors said they want clarity on procurement, installation timelines and whether the program has progressed to implementation.
Both referrals passed on unanimous voice votes; the committees will set hearings and invite school and police officials to participate.
