CHICOPEE, Mass. - Opening contract negotiations early with educators in the Chicopee School District is on the agenda for the school committee as one way to address a teacher shortage across the district.

Mayor John Vieau said a meeting was held earlier this month to discuss the issue and will continue to be on the committee agenda during the next meeting as well.

"It's no secret that other municipalities are seeing a teacher shortage right now,” he said. “There are many districts that are trying to recruit teachers, us, we're one of them. We have a commercial. Our commercial is very well done and the goal is just letting those who are in the educational field know there is room to grow in our school district."

Vieau said the teachers in the Chicopee school system will be entering the third year of their three-year contracts in July. Marcus Ware, who was selected by the school committee to be the next superintendent this past winter, will officially start on July 1.

Vieau said he wants decisions that involve the schools operating budget to include Ware.

"I felt that having a new superintendent who’s signing a three-year contract to make sure that he has the tools he needs to be successful to guide our district,” Vieau said. “He's gonna be evaluated on student success."

Vieau said many students have suffered academically from the pandemic. His goal is to make sure teachers are paid well and schools are staffed properly so students can be given the best education possible.

"Making sure those students are getting back on track, it's no secret that COVID had caused a lot of educational loss for many,” Vieau said. “Keeping them engaged through the summers is something very important as well, and again, getting students back to where they were pre-COVID for their age group and for their grade."

The next school committee will be held Wednesday night at the Chicopee City Hall auditorium.