Construction delays prevent opening of Chicopee elementary school, children moved to other buildings to meet state mandate
Updated Apr 02, 2021;
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CHICOPEE – Construction delays are causing students from one school to be shifted to two other buildings, as the state orders elementary-aged children to return to full-time classes next week.
Air quality testing in Chicopee schools this summer uncovered inadequate ventilation at Patrick E. Bowe School, forcing the city to replace the entire system before children returned to class during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Work on the about $600,000 project began in the fall and original projections estimated construction would be completed in early February. Now that has been pushed back until mid-May if everything goes well.
After almost a year of remote learning, some Chicopee students start in-person classes Monday
Updated Feb 20, 2021;
CHICOPEE City students, many of whom have not been in a school in nearly a year, will return to some in-person learning Monday under a system that will mix classes at schools with remote lessons.
The School Committee voted last week to change to a hybrid model after the idea was recommended by a task force of educators, parents and students and then sent to a separate implementation committee of administrators, School Committee members and the executive committee of the Chicopee Education Association.
Although some educators aired concerns about returning to the classroom before vaccines are widely available, this week the members of the Chicopee Education Association approved the change with 79% who cast ballots voting in favor. The decision allows the change to take place at the start of the second half of the school year, Superintendent Lynn A. Clark said.