Pia Durkin

The interim Superintendent of New Bedford Schools is heading back to retirement.  Former Voke Tech administrator Mike Shea held down the post for 14 months, dealing with budget problems, making key hires, and fending off a threatened takeover of the school system by the state...

Mayor Jon Mitchell says his proposed fiscal year 2014 budget takes a "steady as she goes" approach. Mitchell says his $263-million proposal will keep the city at status quo, while also restoring a third of the Rainy Day Fund. The proposal sets $109-million aside for the school department, the statutorily required level...

Bravo, Pia Durkin, for handling the Attleboro school lunch fiasco with proper final action! If you recall, the story made national headlines and generated national disgust over the decision to deny middle school kids their lunch because they either had empty pre-paid accounts or they just didn't have the cash with them.

The New Bedford School Committee is just five days away from selecting a new superintendent of schools.