MassVoter.com← New Bedford School CommitteeNew Bedford School Committee · 2022–2023 term · Regular meeting · 6:00 p.m.
July 11, 2022
7 recorded votes, 4 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF)
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Present: Jon Mitchell, Colleen Dawicki, Bruce Oliveira, Melissa Costa, Christopher Cotter, Jack Livramento, Jr., Ross Grace, Jr.
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Approve the position of Chief of Staff to the Superintendent’s Office as presented
To approve the position of Chief of Staff to the Superintendent’s Office as presented
Yes: Bruce Oliveira, Cotter, Dawicki, Livramento, MitchellNo: Costa, Grace
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Bruce Oliveira and seconded by Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. to approve the position of Chief of Staff to the Superintendent’s Office as presented. The roll call vote was as follows: Mr, Ross Grace, Jr. - No Ms. Melissa Costa - No Mr, Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 5-Yeas, 2-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Bruce Oliveira, second: Livramento)
Authorize the Superintendent to enter into an inter-department Memorandum of Understanding between the City of New Bedford and New Bedford Public Schools regarding the Central Kitchen
To authorize the Superintendent to enter into an inter-department Memorandum of Understanding between the City of New Bedford and New Bedford Public Schools regarding the Central Kitchen
Yes: Bruce Oliveira, Costa, Cotter, Dawicki, Grace, LivramentoAbstained: Mitchell
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Bruce Oliveira and seconded by Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. to authorize the Superintendent to enter into an inter-department Memorandum of Understanding between the City of New Bedford and New Bedford Public Schools regarding the Central Kitchen. The roll call was as follows: Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Abstain Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 6-Yeas, 0-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Bruce Oliveira, second: Grace)
Accept the Finance and Operations Reports as presented
To accept the Finance and Operations Reports as presented
From the minutes
“motion made by Mr. Bruce Oliveira and seconded by Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. to accept the Finance and Operations Reports as presented. The ro}l call was as follows: - 2|Page 7. 9. Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 7-Yeas, 0-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Bruce Oliveira, second: Grace)
Place the Personnel Report on file as presented
To place the Personnel Report on file as presented
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. The roll calf was as follows: Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr, Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 7-Yeas, 0-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Livramento, second: Bruce Oliveira)
Reauthorize the FY2022 Grant Funds to the FY2023 Grant Funds as presented
To reauthorize the FY2022 Grant Funds to the FY2023 Grant Funds as presented
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. and seconded by Ms. Colleen Dawicki to reauthorize the FY2022 Grant Funds to the FY2023 Grant Funds as presented. The roll call vote was as follows: Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr, - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 7-Yeas, 0-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Livramento, second: Dawicki)
Enter into Executive Session for the following purpose and return to open session: Per MGL 30A § 21 (a) 3
To enter into Executive Session for the following purpose and return to open session: Per MGL 30A § 21 (a) 3
The minutes name Jack Livramento, Jr. as both the mover and the seconder.
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Jack Livramento and seconded by Mr. Jack Livramento to enter into Executive Session for the following purpose and return to open session: Per MGL 30A § 21 (a) 3. To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining and negotiations with union personnel: New Bedford Educator’s Association, Unit A and B, Federation of Paraprofessionals, EL Updates The roll call vote was as follows: Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 7-Yeas, 0-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Livramento, second: Livramento)
Ratify the New Bedford Educator’s Association Unit A contract as presented
To ratify the New Bedford Educator’s Association Unit A contract as presented
The minutes name Jack Livramento, Jr. as both the mover and the seconder.
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Jack Livramento and seconded by Mr. Jack Livramento to ratify the New Bedford Educator’s Association Unit A contract as presented. The roll call vote was as follows: Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki- Yes 3|Page Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell -- Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 7-Yeas, O-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Livramento, second: Livramento)
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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