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A special joint convention of the City Council and School Committee will select a resident to fill the opening on the New Bedford School Committee after the passing of committee member Bruce Oliveira.
Interested residents can email Janet Barbosa, in the city’s personnel department, with a letter that “expresses their intent to apply and sets forth their qualifications,” according to a city news release. These letters must be received by Dec. 31, and the joint convention of the city’s elected officials will consider applications at a Jan. 7 meeting in City Council chambers.
According to state law, the mayor, if present, shall preside over the convention.
Oliveira was a member of the School Committee for 13 years. He first joined through a joint convention process in 2012, replacing a member who had resigned. Oliveira later won election in 2013 to finish the term and then won multiple reelections, including most recently in 2023 as the top vote-getter.
The School Committee member appointed by the joint convention will serve until the next regular municipal election, which will take place in November 2027.
What does the School Committee do?
The School Committee meets once per month throughout the school year and oversees the district’s finances, collective bargaining agreements, district policy, community relations, and much more.
In reality, this often means the minutiae of paperwork, the disentangling of complicated finances, and the temperament to weather the slings and arrows of public opinion.
“Engagement, empowerment, and education,” are typically why people choose to get involved, said Manuel DeBrito, chair of New Bedford’s Election Commission. DeBrito said running for a seat is a chance for everyday people to “make yourself part of the solution,” especially on the School Committee.
The Massachusetts Association of School Committees is the statewide body that works to support committee members, and its online handbook has a thorough breakdown of the responsibilities and legal requirements of school committee members.
The position is unpaid in New Bedford. However, some districts in Massachusetts, including Boston and Medford, have moved to provide compensation or benefits to their School Committee members.
Email Colin Hogan at chogan@newbedfordlight.org.
Mr. Oliveira, may you rest in peace with the other greats! Mr. Nobrega, Mr. Pacheco and Ms. Dottin.
Will any of NBPS complainers step up?
Have you ever worked for the NBPS. You complain a lot?
If you worked for the NBPS, you’d be in that (complainer) category. Do you even live in New Bedford?