MassVoter.com← New BedfordMunicipal votes · 2022–2023 term
New Bedford School Committee
How the New Bedford School Committee voted, from the School Committee's official minutes. 7 members: the Mayor, who chairs it, and 6 elected citywide. Melissa Costa and Ross Grace, Jr. joined in January 2022. Colleen Dawicki was Vice Chair in 2022. The district has posted minutes online for the March through December 2022 meetings only; none for January or February 2022 or for 2023. Covers 10 meetings, March 7 to December 12, 2022.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the School Committee do? It hires and evaluates the superintendent, sets goals and policies for the public schools, and approves the school budget.
The City Council decides the total amount the schools get; the School Committee decides how that money is spent.
Sources: Mass. General Laws c. 71 § 37 (school committees) · c. 71 § 34 (school budgets)Your New Bedford ballot: 15 quizzes, about a minute each.
Start my ballot →Terms
Coming up
MassVoter can’t read New Bedford’s meeting calendar automatically yet. See upcoming meetings on the official site →
Members
ChairJon MitchellMayor; Chair (by law) · Mayor (chair) · at 8 of 10 meetingsVice-ChairColleen DawickiVice Chair (2022) · Elected citywide · at 9 of 10 meetings
Melissa CostaSchool Committee Member · Elected citywide · at 10 of 10 meetings
Christopher CotterSchool Committee Member · Elected citywide · at 8 of 10 meetingsRoss Grace, Jr.School Committee Member · Elected citywide · at 8 of 10 meetings
Jack Livramento, Jr.School Committee Member · Elected citywide · at 10 of 10 meetingsBruce OliveiraSchool Committee Member · Elected citywide · at 10 of 10 meetings"At X of Y meetings" counts the roll call at the start of each meeting in this record. Members who step out are listed on each meeting page.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Not here yet: the district has posted minutes online for only some meetings. These pages cover every regular meeting with posted minutes: January through November 2021 (plus a special meeting on September 8, 2021), March through December 2022, January through April 2025, and January, February, March, April, May and August 2026. Minutes are not posted for the December 2021, January 2022 or February 2022 meetings, for any meeting in 2023 or 2024, or for the other 2025 and 2026 meetings; special meetings, budget sessions and subcommittees in those years are not posted either. Minutes for 2020 are posted but are not on these pages yet. The district posted some 2021 minutes twice; we read both copies and they match. Where a printed roll call does not match its count, or the minutes call a vote unanimous when the roll call shows a no vote, the vote is noted; we will ask the School Committee office to confirm.
Votes where members disagreed
Most committee votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one member voted no or abstained, newest first.
Sep 12Receive and place the Personnel Report on file as…Motion: to receive and place the Personnel Report on file as presentedPassed 5–0 · Abstained: Costa
September 12, 2022: Receive and place the Personnel Report on file as presented
To receive and place the Personnel Report on file as presented
Yes: Bruce Oliveira, Cotter, Dawicki, Livramento, MitchellAbstained: CostaAbsent: Grace
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Bruce Oliveira and seconded by Mr. Christopher Cotter to receive and place the Personnel Report on file as presented. The vote was as follows: Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. - Absent Ms. Melissa Costa - Abstain Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki- Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 5-Yeas, 0-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Bruce Oliveira, second: Cotter)
Jul 11Approve the position of Chief of Staff to the…Motion: to approve the position of Chief of Staff to the Superintendent’s…Passed 5–2 · No: Costa, Grace
July 11, 2022: 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)
Jul 11Authorize the Superintendent to enter into an inter-department Memorandum…Motion: to authorize the Superintendent to enter into an inter-department Memorandum of…Passed 6–0 · Abstained: Mitchell
July 11, 2022: 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)
Jul 11Ratify the New Bedford Educator’s Association Unit A contract…Motion: to ratify the New Bedford Educator’s Association Unit A contract as…Passed Unanimous, 7 present · see note
July 11, 2022: 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)
Jun 13Approve the FY2023 Student Activity and Revolving accounts as…Motion: to approve the FY2023 Student Activity and Revolving accounts as presentedPassed Unanimous, 6 present (Cotter absent) · see note
June 13, 2022: Approve the FY2023 Student Activity and Revolving accounts as presented
To approve the FY2023 Student Activity and Revolving accounts as presented
The printed roll call is partly unreadable in the scanned minutes for Colleen Dawicki; 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. Jack Livramento, Jr. to approve the FY2023 Student Activity and Revolving accounts as presented. The roll call vote was as follows: Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Absent Ms. Colleen Dawitcki- Yes Mr, Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 6-Yeas, o-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Bruce Oliveira, second: Livramento)
May 9Accept the FY2023 Net School Spending amount $200,065,989 as…Motion: to accept the FY2023 Net School Spending amount $200,065,989 as presentedPassed Unanimous, 5 present (Grace, Mitchell absent) · see note
May 9, 2022: Accept the FY2023 Net School Spending amount $200,065,989 as presented
To accept the FY2023 Net School Spending amount $200,065,989 as presented
The printed roll call is partly unreadable in the scanned minutes for Bruce Oliveira; the count (5–0) 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. Jack Livramento to accept the FY2023 Net School Spending amount $200,065,989 as presented. The roll call vote was as follows: Mr. Ross Grace, Jr, - Absent Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr, - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Absent Mr. Bruce Olivelra- Yes - 5-Yeas, 0-Nays, 2-Absent.” (Motion: Bruce Oliveira, second: Livramento)
Apr 11Approve the 2022-2023 School Choice optionMotion: to approve the 2022-2023 School Choice optionPassed Unanimous, 7 present · see note
April 11, 2022: Approve the 2022-2023 School Choice option
To approve the 2022-2023 School Choice option
The printed roll call is partly unreadable in the scanned minutes for Colleen Dawicki; the count (7–0) and the other names show this member voted yes.
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted UNANIMOUSLY on a motion made by Mr. Christopher Cotter and seconded by Mr. Bruce Oliveira to approve the 2022-2023 School Choice option. The roll call vote was as follows: 1|Page 3. 4. Mr. Ross Grace - Yes Mr. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawickt - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 7-Yeas, o-Nays, o-Absent.” (Motion: Cotter, second: Bruce Oliveira)
Mar 7Support the proposed Massachusetts Fair Share Amendment that would…Motion: to support the proposed Massachusetts Fair Share Amendment that would create…Passed 5–1 · No: Cotter · Abstained: Bruce Oliveira
March 7, 2022: Support the proposed Massachusetts Fair Share Amendment that would create an additional tax of four percentage points on annual income above one million dollars and dedicate the funds raised by…
To support the proposed Massachusetts Fair Share Amendment that would create an additional tax of four percentage points on annual income above one million dollars and dedicate the funds raised by this tax to quality public education, affordable public colleges and universities, and for repair and maintenance of roads, bridges, and public transportation
Yes: Costa, Dawicki, Grace, Livramento, MitchellNo: CotterAbstained: Bruce Oliveira
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Jack Livramento and seconded by Ms. Colleen Dawicki to support the proposed Massachusetts Fair Share Amendment that would create an additional tax of four percentage points on annual income above one million dollars and dedicate the funds raised by this tax to quality public education, affordable public colleges and universities, and for repair and maintenance of roads, bridges, and public transportation. The roll call vote was as follows: Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. - Yes . Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - No Ms, Colleen Dawicki- Yes Mr, Jack Livramento - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Abstained 5-Yeas, 1-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Livramento, second: Dawicki)
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).
How to read these pagesWhere the votes come from, how we check them against the official minutes, what isn't included yet, and how to report a mistake.About city pages →