New Bedford School Committee members held an emergency meeting Tuesday to discuss the City Council's $4 million dollar budget cut.

Rosa Say,flickr
Rosa Say,flickr
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If the cuts stand, it could mean the closure of three schools, a loss of more than 50 staff, and elimination of all athletic programs. Despite the cut, the School Board extended an "olive branch" to the council, offering to hold regular meetings with Councilors and the schools' business manager to monitor school spending. Committee member Bruce Oliveira thinks the Council deserves more answers about school finances.

Council President Bruce Duarte tells WBSM News, he and his colleagues are open to that idea.

The school board also voted to have Mayor Jon Mitchell make a $4 million dollar supplemental budget request to the Council, to reverse the cuts made last week. The Council meets for the final time before the end of the fiscal year Thursday night.

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