MassVoter.com← New Bedford School CommitteeNew Bedford School Committee · 2026–2027 term · Regular meeting · 6:03 p.m.
May 11, 2026
10 recorded votes, 0 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF)
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Present: Christopher Cotter, Jack Livramento, Jr., Melissa Costa, Richard Porter III, Vonmarie Moniz, William “Brad” Markey
Absent: Jon Mitchell
Every vote, in order
Open the Public Hearing for the FY2027 New Bedford Public Schools (NBPS) Budget
To open the Public Hearing for the FY2027 New Bedford Public Schools (NBPS) Budget
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr., and seconded by Mr. William Markey to open the Public Hearing for the FY2027 New Bedford Public Schools (NBPS) Budget. The roll call vote was as follows: Ms. Von Marie Moniz - Yes Mr. William Markey - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Absent Mr. Richard Porter Ill - Yes 6-Yeas, O-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Livramento, second: Markey)
Approve the proposed net school spending eligible amount of $267,020,608 for FY2027 as presented
To approve the proposed net school spending eligible amount of $267,020,608 for FY2027 as presented
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr., and seconded by Mr. William Markey to approve the proposed net school spending eligible amount of $267,020,608 for FY2027 as presented. The roll call vote was as follows: Ms. Von Marie Moniz - Yes Mr. William Markey - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Absent Mr. Richard Porter III - Yes 6-Yeas, O-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Livramento, second: Markey)
Approve the proposed non-net school spending eligible amount of $20,209,114 for FY2027 as presented
To approve the proposed non-net school spending eligible amount of $20,209,114 for FY2027 as presented
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. William Markey, and seconded by Ms. Von Marie Moniz to approve the proposed non-net school spending eligible amount of $20,209,114 for FY2027 as presented. The roll call vote was as follows: Ms. Von Marie Moniz - Yes Mr. William Markey - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Absent Mr. Richard Porter Ill - Yes 6-Yeas, 0-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Markey, second: Moniz)
Approve the proposed total FY2027 budget of $287,229,722 for FY2027 as presented
To approve the proposed total FY2027 budget of $287,229,722 for FY2027 as presented
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr., and seconded by Mr. William Markey to approve the proposed total FY2027 budget of $287,229,722 for FY2027 as presented. The roll call vote was as follows: Ms. Von Marie Moniz - Yes Mr. William Markey - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Absent Mr. Richard Porter Ill - Yes 6-Yeas, O-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Livramento, second: Markey)
Close the Budget Hearing for the FY2027 proposed budget and open the regular meeting of the School Committee
To close the Budget Hearing for the FY2027 proposed budget and open the regular meeting of the School Committee
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. William Markey and seconded by Ms. Von Marie Moniz to close the Budget Hearing for the FY2027 proposed budget and open the regular meeting of the School Committee. The roll call vote was as follows: Ms. Von Marie Moniz - Yes Mr. William Markey - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Absent Mr. Richard Porter Ill - Yes 6-Yeas, 0-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Markey, second: Moniz)
Accept the regular meeting minutes of April 13, 2026, with the corrections made and placed on file
To accept the regular meeting minutes of April 13, 2026, with the corrections made and placed on file
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Richard Porter and seconded by Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr., to accept the regular meeting minutes of April 13, 2026, with the corrections made and placed on file. The roll call vote was as follows: Ms. Von Marie Moniz - Yes Mr. William Markey - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Absent Mr. Richard Porter Ill - Yes 6-Yeas, O-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Porter, second: Livramento)
Accept the Finance and Operations Reports from March 2026 as presented and placed on file
To accept the Finance and Operations Reports from March 2026 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. William Markey to accept the Finance and Operations Reports from March 2026 as presented and placed on file. The roll call vote was as follows: 7|Page Ms. Von Marie Moniz - Yes Mr. William Markey - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Absent Mr. Richard Porter Ill - Yes 6-Yeas, 0-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Livramento, second: Markey)
Accept the May 2026 Personnel report as presented and place it on file
To accept the May 2026 Personnel report 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. William Markey, to accept the May 2026 Personnel report as presented and place it on file. The roll call vote was as follows: Ms. Von Marie Moniz - Yes Mr. William Markey - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Absent Mr. Richard Porter Ill - Yes 6-Yeas, 0-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Livramento, second: Markey)
Approve the plans for and establishment of the New Bedford Virtual Learning Academy as presented
To approve the plans for and establishment of the New Bedford Virtual Learning Academy as presented
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Richard Porter, and seconded Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr., to approve the plans for and establishment of the New Bedford Virtual Learning Academy as presented. The roll call vote was as follows: Ms. Von Marie Moniz - Yes Mr. William Markey - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Absent Mr. Richard Porter Ill - Yes 6-Yeas, 0-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Porter, second: Livramento)
Vote to approve the establishment of the New Bedford Virtual Learning Academy (NBVLA)
To adjourn the regular meeting of the School Committee
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. William Markey and seconded by Mr. Richard Porter to adjourn the regular meeting of the School Committee. The roll call vote was as follows: Ms. Von Marie Moniz - Yes Mr. William Markey - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Absent Mr. Richard Porter Ill - Yes 6-Yeas, 0-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Markey, second: Porter)
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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