The School Committee discusses the resignation of Chester Szetela during its Oct. 16 meeting.
Reminder Publishing screen capture by Tyler Garnet
CHICOPEE — During the School Committee meeting on Oct. 16 it was announce that At-Large School Committee member Chester Szetela would be stepping down after serving on the committee since 2002.
Mayor John Vieau said he received Szetela’s letter of resignation on Oct. 9 and is working with City Council President Frank Laflamme on scheduling a joint meeting of the School Committee and the City Council to obtain nominations to fill the vacancy.
Vieau gave a statement about Szetela and said, “Chet Szetela was a dedicated and devoted member of the Chicopee school system working on behalf of the students in our community. As a teacher, he took on after school duties and coached various sport teams. He always lent a hand in the community. He served 22 years on the Chicopee School Committee focusing on student achievement, school safety, financial responsibility and innovation. We will miss his service and we wish Chet well in his retirement from the Chicopee School Committee.”
Szetela was the first member of his family to graduate from college and received a bachelor of arts and master’s in education.
Besides being born and going to school in Chicopee, he has over 40 years of experience as a teacher and started his career in Chicopee Public School at Bellamy Middle School working as a school adjustment counselor. He spent 34 years with Chicopee Public Schools.
He also has seven children, including At-Large School Committee member Susan Szetela-Lopes, as well as 16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Superintendent Marcus Ware said he praised Szetela for all he did for the school community and shared what he told Szetela-Lopes recently.
He said, “I’d like to echo the mayor’s sentiments and I told Ms. Lopes when I spoke with her recently I wanted to be like Mr. Szetela when I grew up so I do thank him for his service for the short time I’ve been here.”
School Committee member Doug Girouard also wanted to recognize his fellow School Committee member.
He said, “I’d just like to acknowledge one of our colleagues on the board for their service for 23 years Mr. Chet Szetela. He’s done so much for our community, for our schools and for our students. It’s going to be hard to replace him and I hope he’s doing okay. We miss.”
The Chicopee School Committee advertised that it is now seeking “a dedicated and enthusiastic” member of the community to fill the vacant at-large School Committee seat.
For anyone interested in this seat, please email a letter of interest and/or resume to shoar@cpsge.org.
These items may also be mailed or delivered to the Superintendent’s Office at 134 Dulong Circle.
