School Committee Approves $139.4M FY27 Budget
Chicopee School Committee unanimously approves $139.4 million FY27 budget. The 10-0 vote Monday sends a $142.5 million total spending plan, including other income, to the City Council, up about 6.5 percent from this year.
School Committee · Meeting of June 1, 2026
Chicopee School Committee unanimously approves $139.4 million FY27 budget. The 10-0 vote Monday sends a $142.5 million total spending plan, including other income, to the City Council, up about 6.5 percent from this year. Director of Budget and Finance John Marecki told the board a $3.3 million drop in municipal retirement costs and a smaller-than-expected health insurance increase eased the crunch, calling the retirement savings "a nice gift from the city." The budget draws $8.4 million from the district's education stabilization fund, nearly exhausting it, and adds 40 positions while cutting five long-unfilled ones.
The committee also honored two retiring longtime employees: Bowie School Principal Norman Burgess, after 58 years, and Chicopee High School teacher and soccer coach Tom Rivet, after 32 years. Members separately approved Dr. April Wrist's appointment as assistant superintendent for student support services effective July 1.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,674 words
Source: the School Committee meeting of June 1, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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