Backlash Erupts Over Principal's Removal At Chicopee Schools
Backlash over a Chicopee High School administrator's removal dominates the School Committee's year-end meeting.
School Committee · Meeting of June 17, 2026
CHICOPEE — Backlash over a Chicopee High School administrator's removal dominates the School Committee's year-end meeting. Teacher Michelle LaFond said a letter asking the board to review administrator Gina Fasoli Figueroa's dismissal was signed by nearly 60 staff, while paraprofessional Thomas Kerner credited her with ending "classroom chaos." Parents separately pressed for an independent audit of hiring practices and raised concerns about declining enrollment and immigration-enforcement access to school buildings; the board took no action on any of it. The committee did approve $1.43 million across two bills warrants, a Chicopee Education Association memorandum of agreement, and a $95,750 wheelchair-accessible van for special education, and voted unanimously to rename the Bowie-Seltzer Field of Dreams for retiring 58-year principal Norman A.
Burgess Jr. Two senior administrators, Dr. Andrea Stolar and Carol Kruiser, were also honored at their final meetings before retirement and a new superintendency, respectively.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,028 words
Source: the School Committee meeting of June 17, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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