MassVoter.com← New Bedford School CommitteeNew Bedford School Committee · 2026–2027 term · Regular meeting · 6:03 p.m.
August 10, 2026
7 recorded votes, 2 with disagreement.
Sources: Official minutes (PDF)
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Present: Jon Mitchell, Jack Livramento, Jr., Melissa Costa, Richard Porter III, Vonmarie Moniz, William “Brad” Markey
Absent: Christopher Cotter
Every vote, in order
Accept the regular meeting minutes of June 8, 2026, and place on file
To accept the regular meeting minutes of June 8, 2026, and place on file
Yes: Livramento, Markey, Moniz, PorterAbstained: CostaAbsent: Cotter, Mitchell
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr., and seconded by Mr. Richard Porter to accept the regular meeting minutes of June 8, 2026, and place on file. The roll call vote was as follows: Ms. Von Marie Moniz - Yes Mr. William Markey - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Absent Ms. Melissa Costa - Abstain (remote) Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Absent Mr. Richard Porter Ill - Yes 4-Yeas, 0-Nays, 2-Absent, 1-Abstain.” (Motion: Livramento, second: Porter)
Accept the Finance and Operations Reports from July 2026 as presented and place on file
To accept the Finance and Operations Reports from July 2026 as presented and place on file
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. William Markey and seconded by Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr., to accept the Finance and Operations Reports from July 2026 as presented and place on file. The roll call vote was as follows: Ms. Von Marie Moniz - Yes Mr. William Markey - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Absent Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes (remote) Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Richard Porter Ill - Yes 6-Yeas, O-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Markey, second: Livramento)
Accept the July 2026 and August 2026 Personnel reports as presented and place on file
To accept the July 2026 and August 2026 Personnel reports as presented and place on file
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr., and seconded by Mr. William Bradley, to accept the July 2026 and August 2026 Personnel reports as presented and place on file. The roll call vote was as follows: Ms. Von Marie Moniz - Yes Mr. William Markey - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Absent Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes (remote) Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Richard Porter Ill - Yes 6-Yeas, O-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Livramento)
Approve the proposed changes to the existing grade structure and school districts for the Ashley Elementary School project
To approve the proposed changes to the existing grade structure and school districts for the Ashley Elementary School project
The minutes name the mover as “Mr. William Bradley”; no member has that name (the roll call lists Mr. William Markey), so no mover is shown. We will ask the School Committee office to confirm.
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. William Bradley, and seconded Mr. Richard Porter, to approve the proposed changes to the existing grade structure and school districts for the Ashley Elementary School project. The roll call vote was as follows: Ms. Von Marie Moniz - Yes Mr. William Markey - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Absent Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes (remote) Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Richard Porter Ill - Yes 6-Yeas, O-Nays, 1-Absent.” (second: Porter)
Approve to waive the second reading to implement the following recommended policies, ADF - School Wellness Policy, JKAA - Time Out, Seclusion and Physical Restraint of Students, KBG - Parent Advisory
To approve to waive the second reading to implement the following recommended policies, ADF - School Wellness Policy, JKAA - Time Out, Seclusion and Physical Restraint of Students, KBG - Parent Advisory Council be in place before school start
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Ms. Von Marie Moniz and seconded by Ms. Melissa Costa to approve to waive the second reading to implement the following recommended policies, ADF - School Wellness Policy, JKAA - Time Out, Seclusion and Physical Restraint of Students, KBG - Parent Advisory Council be in place before school start. The roll call vote was as follows: Ms. Von Marie Moniz - Yes Mr. William Markey - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Absent Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes (remote) Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Richard Porter Ill - Yes 6-Yeas, O-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Moniz, second: Costa)
Approve the reading of the following recommended policies, ADF - School Wellness Policy, JKAA - Time Out, Seclusion and Physical Restraint of Students, KBG - Parent Advisory Council
To approve the reading of the following recommended policies, ADF - School Wellness Policy, JKAA - Time Out, Seclusion and Physical Restraint of Students, KBG - Parent Advisory Council
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Ms. Von Marie Moniz and seconded by Mr. Richard Porter to approve the reading of the following recommended policies, ADF - School Wellness Policy, JKAA - Time Out, Seclusion and Physical Restraint of Students, KBG - Parent Advisory Council. The roll call vote was as follows: Ms. Von Marie Moniz - Yes Mr. William Markey - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Absent Ms. Melissa Costa - Yes (remote) Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes 6|Page Mr. Richard Porter Ill - Yes 6-Yeas, 0-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Moniz, second: Porter)
Adjourn the Open Meeting, enter into Executive Session and not return to Open Session
To adjourn the Open Meeting, enter into Executive Session and not return to Open Session
From the minutes
“The School Committee voted on a motion made by Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr., and seconded by Ms. Von Marie Moniz, to adjourn the Open Meeting, enter into Executive Session and not return to Open Session. The roll call vote was as follows: Ms. Von Marie Moniz - Yes Mr. William Markey - Yes Mr. Christopher Cotter - Yes Ms. Melissa Costa - Absent Mr. Jack Livramento, Jr. - Yes Mayor Jon Mitchell - Yes Mr. Richard Porter III - Yes 6-Yeas, 0-Nays, 1-Absent.” (Motion: Livramento, second: Moniz)
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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