MassVoter.com← New Bedford School CommitteeNew Bedford School Committee · 2020–2021 term · Regular meeting · 6:00 p.m.
September 20, 2021
8 recorded votes, 1 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF)
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Present: Jon Mitchell, Bruce Oliveira, Christopher Cotter, Jack Livramento, Jr., Joshua Amaral, Colleen Dawicki
Absent: John Oliveira
Every vote, in order
Approve the August 9, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes and the September 8, 2021 Special Meeting Minutes as presented
To approve the August 9, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes and the September 8, 2021 Special Meeting Minutes as presented
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Christopher Cotter and seconded by Mr. Joshua Amaral to approve the August 9, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes and the September 8, 2021 Special Meeting Minutes as presented. The vote was as follows: Mr. John Oliveira - Absent Mr. Joshua Amaral - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki- Yes Mr. Jack Livramento - Yes Mayor Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 6-Yeas, O0-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Cotter, second: Amaral)
Draft a letter to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Massachusetts State Legislators in opposition of the state policy measurement for exiting the lowest 10% of schools
To draft a letter to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Massachusetts State Legislators in opposition of the state policy measurement for exiting the lowest 10% of schools
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Joshua Amaral and seconded by Mr. Bruce Oliveira to draft a letter to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Massachusetts State Legislators in opposition of the state policy measurement for exiting the lowest 10% of schools. The vote was as follows: Mr. John Oliveira - Absent Mr. Joshua Amaral - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento - Yes Mayor Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 6-Yeas, O-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Amaral, second: Bruce Oliveira)
Accept the Transfer report as presented to the School Committee
To accept the Transfer report as presented to the School Committee
The printed roll call is partly unreadable in the scanned minutes for Jon Mitchell; the count (6–0) and the other names show this member voted yes.
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Bruce Oliveira and seconded by Mr. Christopher Cotter to accept the Transfer report as presented to the School Committee. The vote was as follows: Mr. John Oliveira - Absent Mr. Joshua Amaral - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento - Yes Mayor Mitcheil - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 6-Yeas, 0-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Bruce Oliveira, second: Cotter)
Accept the Finance and Operation reports as presented to the School Committee
To accept the Finance and Operation reports as presented to the School Committee
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Jack Livramento and seconded by Mr. Christopher Cotter to accept the Finance and Operation reports as presented to the School Committee. The vote was as follows: Mr. John Oliveira - Absent Mr. Joshua Amaral - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento - Yes Mayor Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 6-Yeas, 0-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Livramento, second: Cotter)
Place the Personnel report on file as presented to the School Committee
To place the Personnel report on file as presented to the School Committee
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Jack Livramento and seconded by Mr. Bruce Oliveira to place the Personnel report on file as presented to the School Committee. The vote was as follows: Mr. John Oliveira - Absent Mr. Joshua Amaral - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento - Yes Mayor Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 6-Yeas, O-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Livramento, second: Bruce Oliveira)
Approve the change of name of the Sea Lab Education Center to the Dr. Frederick M. Kalisz Jr. Center as presented to the Committee
To approve the change of name of the Sea Lab Education Center to the Dr. Frederick M. Kalisz Jr. Center as presented to the Committee
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Bruce Oliveira and seconded by Mr. Joshua Amaral to approve the change of name of the Sea Lab Education Center to the Dr. Frederick M. Kalisz Jr. Center as presented to the Committee. The vote was as follows: Mr. John Oliveira - Absent Mr, Joshua Amaral - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento - Yes Mayor Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 6-Yeas, O-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Bruce Oliveira, second: Amaral)
Approve the first reading and move forward to a second and final reading of the EBCFA Face Coverings policy
To approve the first reading and move forward to a second and final reading of the EBCFA Face Coverings policy
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Ms. Bruce Oliveira and seconded by Mr. Christopher Cotter to approve the first reading and move forward to a second and final reading of the EBCFA Face Coverings policy. The vote was as follows: Mr. John Oliveira - Absent Mr. Joshua Amaral - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento - Yes Mayor Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 6-Yeas, O-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Bruce Oliveira, second: Cotter)
Adjourn the meeting and enter into Executive Session for the following purpose: A. Per MGL 30A & 21(a) 3
To adjourn the meeting and enter into Executive Session for the following purpose: A. Per MGL 30A & 21(a) 3
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Bruce Oliveira and seconded by Mr. Christopher Cotter to adjourn the meeting and enter into Executive Session for the following purpose: A. Per MGL 30A & 21(a) 3. To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining and negotiations with union personnel: e New Bedford Educators Association Unit A e New Bedford Educators Association Unit B e Federation of Paraprofessionals The roll call vote was as follows: Mr. John Oliveira - Absent Mr. Joshua Amaral - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki- Yes Mr. Jack Livramento - Yes Mayor Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 6-Yeas, O-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Bruce Oliveira, second: Cotter)
From the New Bedford School Committee’s official minutes, posted on the New Bedford Public Schools website. The minutes are scanned documents, which we read with text recognition. Every vote is a roll call with each member named; we check every count against the names and quote the exact wording. MassVoter never grades officials; votes and attendance are shown exactly as the minutes record them. Member photos: Melissa Costa, Richard Porter and Von Marie Moniz from The New Bedford Light (Eleonora Bianchi, Nov. 2025); Christopher Cotter from WBSM; Mayor Jon Mitchell from the Council on Competitiveness. William “Brad” Markey from The Standard-Times (Oct. 2023 candidate forum). Jack Livramento, Jr. from The New Bedford Light (Colin Hogan, June 2022).
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