CHICOPEE — Staff members and parents spoke at public input during the June 17 School Committee meeting to express their concerns over recent terminations, hirings and turnover in Chicopee Public Schools.
Speakers at the meeting described the situation in the school district as a systemic crisis.
Many who spoke focused on the situation surrounding former Chicopee High School Principal Gina Fasoli Figueroa, who was terminated on June 30 after Superintendent Marcus Ware broke the news to her in May. Chicopee Public Schools Athletic Director Sean Mackin became interim principal following that decision.
Students and staff spoke out against the removal of Figueroa and the claims that she was unwelcoming and not the right fit for the role. They shared stories of how she created a welcoming environment, improved behavior and student discipline, improved student attendance and created a healthier work environment for teachers. Nearly 60 staff members signed a letter asking the School Committee to investigate the termination.
“Dr. Ware graciously came to our faculty meeting, and I think that a majority of the staff left a little underwhelmed in terms of what we were told, how to react to students when they asked about her dismissal, etc.” Chicopee High School teacher Michelle Lafond said. “Since she has left, things are quickly falling apart. Many rules are no longer followed because we feel like we’re not sure what exactly the rules are anymore.”
Chicopee High School paraprofessional Thomas Kerner said that if Fasoli accepts an administrative position in the area, he will be the first to apply for employment at her school.
Aside from concerns about Figueroa’s termination, a few residents cited a bigger issue within Chicopee Public Schools. Heather Santaniello, a parent of three children in the district, recalled a community meeting that took place with Ware three years ago when he was first hired.
“One concern that stood out to me that evening was hearing that some staff members did not feel comfortable speaking up about concerns because they feared retaliation or negative repercussions,” she said. “My feeling then was simple: if the adults responsible for educating, guiding and protecting our children are afraid to speak honestly about problems, how can we expect those problems to be addressed? Today, nearly three years later, I am concerned those issues have not improved and may have gotten worse.”
Santaniello and other residents at public input said they have heard concerns from parents, staff and community members about morale, communication and a lack of trust throughout the district.
Alexis Walker, who said she has been a parent and taxpayer in this district for over 13 years, spoke about what she deemed a systemic crisis within the Chicopee Public Schools district office. She said when parents address certain issues, the administration does not solve problems. Instead, it freezes communication or issues directives to staff to cut off or limit communication.
“Current leadership practice in this district are actively breaking down public trust, dodging accountability, refusing to fix issues or comply with record requests and cultivating an environment of defense and hostility that catches parents and educators in the crossfire,” Walker stated. “I have experienced a total collapse of administrative transparency this year followed by failure to provide safety concerns that go ignored.”
Resident Rebecca Wark said the district is losing teachers, specialized staff, stability and trust. She stated that teacher retention has collapsed. “Even with the district expanding from 587 teacher positions in 2023 to 644 in 2026, the year-to-year retention rate fell from 87.6% to 84.8%. Because the staff is larger and retention is lower, the actual number of departures increased from about 73 teachers leaving in 2023 to roughly 93 teachers leaving in 2026, with even more this year placing Chicopee far below state averages.”
Wark said she followed up with a formal inquiry into some of the concerns raised. She said that the response, which arrived late, stated that personnel matters are not part of the district’s process for initiating an internal investigation and that such decisions rest solely with the superintendent, or where appropriate, with this committee.
Wark said, “I’m calling on the School Committee to act, not later, not eventually, but now. You have the authority to investigate hiring practices, retention trends and the administrative climate that is driving our professionals out of Chicopee, and you have a responsibility to use that authority when the superintendent and the upper staff refuse to address issues.”
During the July 28 meeting, Chicopee Public Schools Human Resources Director Deborah Green shared the personnel report for the past six weeks, which showed 74 new hires. There were also 22 resignations and one retirement. As of the meeting, Green said there are 81 active postings for various positions.
