MassVoter.com← New Bedford School CommitteeNew Bedford School Committee · 2024–2025 term · Regular meeting · 6:03 p.m.
April 14, 2025
13 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF)
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Present: Jon Mitchell, Christopher Cotter, Bruce Oliveira, Jack Livramento, Jr., Colleen Dawicki, Ross Grace, Jr., Melissa Costa
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Close the School Choice Public Hearing for the 2025-2026 school year
To close the School Choice Public Hearing for the 2025-2026 school year
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Christopher Cotter and seconded by Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. to close the School Choice Public Hearing for the 2025-2026 school year. The vote was as follows: Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 7-Yeas, 0-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Cotter, second: Grace)
Open the Regular Meeting of the School Committee
To open the Regular Meeting of the School Committee
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. and seconded by Mr. Christopher Cotter to open the Regular Meeting of the School Committee. The vote was as follows: Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 7-Yeas, 0-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Livramento, second: Cotter)
Accept the minutes from the regular meeting of March 10, 2025 as presented and place on file
To accept the minutes from the regular meeting of March 10, 2025 as presented and place on file
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Christopher Cotter and seconded by Mr. Bruce Oliveira to accept the minutes from the regular meeting of March 10, 2025 as presented and place on file. The vote was as follows: Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr.-- Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 7-Yeas, 0-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Cotter, second: Bruce Oliveira)
Accept the Finance & Operations Transfer Report as presented and place on file
To accept the Finance & Operations Transfer Report as presented and place on file
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Bruce Oliveira and seconded by Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. to accept the Finance & Operations Transfer Report as presented and place on file. The vote was as follows: Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - 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)
Accept the Finance & Operations Reports as presented and placed on file
To accept the Finance & Operations Reports as presented and placed on file
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Bruce Oliveira and seconded by Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr, to accept the Finance & Operations Reports as presented and placed on file. The vote was as follows: Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 7-Yeas, 0-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Bruce Oliveira, second: Livramento)
Accept the Personnel report as presented and place on file
To accept the Personnel report as presented and place on file
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Christopher Cotter and seconded by Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. to accept the Personnel report as presented and place on file. The vote was as follows: Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr, Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 7-Yeas, 0-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Cotter, second: Grace)
Approve member, Ms. Melissa Costa to be the 2025 official voting delegate for the annual business meeting of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) to be held during the MASC Joint
To approve member, Ms. Melissa Costa to be the 2025 official voting delegate for the annual business meeting of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) to be held during the MASC Joint Conference on Friday, November 14, 2025 as presented
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Bruce Oliveira and seconded by Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. to approve member, Ms. Melissa Costa to be the 2025 official voting delegate for the annual business meeting of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) to be held during the MASC Joint Conference on Friday, November 14, 2025 as presented. The vote was as follows: Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - 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)
Approve member, Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. to be the 2025 official alternate voting delegate for the annual business meeting of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) to be held durin
To approve member, Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. to be the 2025 official alternate voting delegate for the annual business meeting of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) to be held during the MASC Joint Conference on Friday, November 14, 2025 as presented
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Bruce Oliveira and seconded by Mr. Ross Grace, Jr to approve member, Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. to be the 2025 official alternate voting delegate for the annual business meeting of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) to be held during the MASC Joint Conference on Friday, November 14, 2025 as presented. The vote was as follows: Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr, Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 7-Yeas, O-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Bruce Oliveira, second: Grace)
Approve the transfer of Inactive Funds from the New Bedford High School (NBHS) Student Activity Account to the NBHS Principal Donation Account as presented
To approve the transfer of Inactive Funds from the New Bedford High School (NBHS) Student Activity Account to the NBHS Principal Donation Account as presented
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 transfer of Inactive Funds from the New Bedford High School (NBHS) Student Activity Account to the NBHS Principal Donation Account as presented. The vote was as follows: Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. - Yes Ms, Coileen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr.- Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 7-Yeas, 0-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Bruce Oliveira, second: Livramento)
Approve the Out of State Field Study as presented. 7|Page
To approve the Out of State Field Study as presented. 7|Page
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 Out of State Field Study as presented. 7|Page The vote was as follows: Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 7-Yeas, O-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Bruce Oliveira, second: Livramento)
Approve the Out of State Travel as presented
To approve the Out of State Travel as presented
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. and seconded by Mr. Christopher Cotter to approve the Out of State Travel as presented. The vote was as follows: Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr.- Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 7-Yeas, 0-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Livramento, second: Cotter)
Vote to approve the Out of State Travel
To approve the first reading of policies DN, EFC, EFE, EHAA, EHB, GBEE, IGB, IHBA, IHBF, ND, UNDB, UNDC, UOA, JICJ, KDC AND KDCB as presented
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Bruce Oliveira and seconded by Ms. Colleen Dawicki to approve the first reading of policies DN, EFC, EFE, EHAA, EHB, GBEE, IGB, IHBA, IHBF, ND, UNDB, UNDC, UOA, JICJ, KDC AND KDCB as presented. The vote was as follows: Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 7-Yeas, 0-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Bruce Oliveira, second: Dawicki)
Adjourn the meeting and enter into executive session pursuant to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 30A, Section 21(a), for the following purposes and not return to open session: 8|Page 1
To adjourn the meeting and enter into executive session pursuant to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 30A, Section 21(a), for the following purposes and not return to open session: 8|Page 1
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Bruce Oliveira and seconded by Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. to adjourn the meeting and enter into executive session pursuant to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 30A, Section 21(a), for the following purposes and not return to open session: 8|Page 1. Purpose (3) to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining and negotiations with union personnel: a. New Bedford Educator's Association (NBEA) - Unit A Early Childhood Center vohn a. Parker Elementary School) b. NBEA UnitA c. NBEA-- Unit B d. Federation of Paraprofessionals The roll call vote was as follows: Mr. Ross Grace, Jr. - Yes Ms. Colleen Dawicki - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Bruce Oliveira - Yes 7-Yeas, 0-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Bruce Oliveira, 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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