MassVoter.com← New Bedford School CommitteeNew Bedford School Committee · 2026–2027 term · Regular meeting · 6:03 p.m.
January 12, 2026
10 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF)
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Present: Jon Mitchell, Christopher Cotter, Jack Livramento, Jr., Melissa Costa, Richard Porter III, Vonmarie Moniz
Absent: None
Every vote, in order
Nominate and approve Ms. Melissa Costa for the 2026 position of School Committee Vice Chair as presented
To nominate and approve Ms. Melissa Costa for the 2026 position of School Committee Vice Chair as presented
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Richard Porter Ill and seconded by Ms. Vonmarie Moniz to nominate and approve Ms. Melissa Costa for the 2026 position of School Committee Vice Chair as presented. The roll call vote was as follows: Ms. Vonmarie Moniz - Yes Mr. Richard Porter Ill - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes 6-Yeas, 0-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Porter, second: Moniz)
Accept the Transfer Report from December 2025 as presented and placed on file
To accept the Transfer Report from December 2025 as presented and placed on file
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. and seconded by Mr. Christopher Cotter to accept the Transfer Report from December 2025 as presented and placed on file. The roll call vote was as follows: Ms. Vonmarie Moniz - Yes Mr. Richard Porter Ill - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes 6-Yeas, 0-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Livramento, second: Cotter)
Accept the Finance and Operations Reports from December 2025 as presented and placed on file
To accept the Finance and Operations Reports from December 2025 as presented and placed on file
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. and seconded by Mr. Christopher Cotter, to accept the Finance and Operations Reports from December 2025 as presented and placed on file. The roll call vote was as follows: Ms. Vonmarie Moniz - Yes Mr. Richard Porter Ill - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes 6-Yeas, 0-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Livramento, second: Cotter)
Accept the Donation Request Report from December 2025 as presented and placed on file
To accept the Donation Request Report from December 2025 as presented and placed on file
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Christopher Cotter and seconded by Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr., to accept the Donation Request Report from December 2025 as presented and placed on file. The roll call vote was as follows: Ms. Vonmarie Moniz - Yes Mr. Richard Porter Ill - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes 6-Yeas, 0-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Cotter, second: Livramento)
Accept the Personnel report of January 2026 as presented and place it on file
To accept the Personnel report of January 2026 as presented and place it on file
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. and seconded by Mr. Christopher Cotter to accept the Personnel report of January 2026 as presented and place it on file. The roll call vote was as follows: Ms. Vonmarie Moniz - Yes Mr. Richard Porter ill - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes 6-Yeas, O-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Livramento, second: Cotter)
Move Public Comment to be heard after the Superintendent report
To move Public Comment to be heard after the Superintendent report
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Ms. Melissa Costa and seconded by Mr. Richard Porter to move Public Comment to be heard after the Superintendent report. The vote was as follows: Ms. Vonmarie Moniz - Yes Mr, Richard Porter Ill - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes 6-Yeas, 0-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Costa, second: Porter)
Table the 2026 School Committee Sub-Committee meeting dates as presented
To table the 2026 School Committee Sub-Committee meeting dates as presented
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr, and seconded Mr. Christopher Cotter to table the 2026 School Committee Sub-Committee meeting dates as presented. The vote was as follows: Ms. Vonmarie Moniz - Yes Mr. Richard Porter Ill - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes 6-Yeas, 0-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Livramento, second: Cotter)
Vote of approval for the 2026 School Committee Sub-Committee meeting dates
To table the 2026 School Committee Sub-Committee meeting dates as presented
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Christopher Cotter, and seconded Mr. Jack Liv to table the 2026 School Committee Sub-Committee meeting dates as presented. The vote was as follows: Ms. Vonmarie Moniz - Yes Mr. Richard Porter Ill - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes 6-Yeas, 0-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Cotter)
Approve the Out of State travel and Field Studies as presented
To approve the Out of State travel and Field Studies 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 and Field Studies as presented. The vote was as follows: Ms. Vonmarie Moniz - Yes Mr. Richard Porter IIi - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes 6-Yeas, 0-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Livramento, second: Cotter)
Adjourn the meeting and enter executive session pursuant to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 30A, Section 21(a), for the following purposes and not return to open session: 1
To adjourn the meeting and enter executive session pursuant to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 30A, Section 21(a), for the following purposes and not return to open session: 1
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Jack Livramento Jr., and seconded by Mr. Christopher Cotter to adjourn the meeting and enter executive session pursuant to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 30A, Section 21(a), for the following purposes and not return to open session: 1. Purpose (3) to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining and negotiations with union personnel: a. New Bedford Educator's Association (NBEA) - Unit B b. New Bedford Support Specialist Union (NBSSU) The roll call vote was as follows: Ms. Vonmarie Moniz - Yes Mr. Richard Porter Ill - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes 6-Yeas, O-Nays, 0-Absent.” (Motion: Livramento, 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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