MassVoter.com← New Bedford School CommitteeNew Bedford Former Member
Colleen Dawicki
Elected citywide · 3 terms in this record
A monthly email on how they voted, starting in November.
Terms
Your New Bedford ballot: 15 quizzes, about a minute each.
Start my ballot →Record at a glance · 2022–2023 term
How these numbers work
- Counted from the official minutes, for 2022–2023 term only. Committee meetings and routine votes (adjourning, approving minutes) are not counted.
- Attendance counts the meetings where the minutes list Dawicki as present or absent at the start.
- Only votes the minutes record member by member are counted. Voice votes and votes given only as a count (for example 6-3 with no names) are not.
- Percentages are shown only when there are at least 10 meetings or votes to count.
- A split vote is one where at least one member voted yes and another voted no. “In the minority” means on the side with fewer votes; ties are not counted.
- “Whole committee” combines every member’s record for the same term.
These numbers describe the record; they are not a grade. A no vote, an abstention or a minority vote is neither good nor bad. MassVoter never rates officials.
Attendance
At the start of 9 of 10 School Committee meetings in 2022–2023 term.
Missed
- Dec 12, 2022 · Regular: Absent
Every meeting (10)
- Dec 12, 2022 · Regular: Absent
- Nov 14, 2022 · Regular: Present
- Oct 17, 2022 · Regular: Present
- Sep 12, 2022 · Regular: Present
- Aug 15, 2022 · Regular: Present
- Jul 11, 2022 · Regular: Present
- Jun 13, 2022 · Regular: Present
- May 9, 2022 · Regular: Present
- Apr 11, 2022 · Regular: Present
- Mar 7, 2022 · Regular: Present
Votes where members disagreed · 2022–2023 term
Sep 12Receive and place the Personnel Report on file as…Motion: to receive and place the Personnel Report on file as presentedPassed 5–0 · Dawicki: Yes
September 12, 2022: Receive and place the Personnel Report on file as presented
To receive and place the Personnel Report on file as presented
Voted: Yes
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 · Dawicki: Yes
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
Voted: Yes
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 · Dawicki: Yes
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
Voted: Yes
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 · Dawicki: Yes
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
Voted: Yes
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) · Dawicki: Yes
June 13, 2022: Approve the FY2023 Student Activity and Revolving accounts as presented
To approve the FY2023 Student Activity and Revolving accounts as presented
Voted: Yes
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) · Dawicki: Yes
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
Voted: Yes
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 · Dawicki: Yes
April 11, 2022: Approve the 2022-2023 School Choice option
To approve the 2022-2023 School Choice option
Voted: Yes
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 · Dawicki: Yes
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
Voted: Yes
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)
Votes with no disagreement (59)
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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