School Committee Member Bruce Oliveira was originally appointed to the post and now he’s running as a candidate to keep his seat.

Oliveira spoke with WBSM’s Brian Thomas about his tenure on the School Committee and some of the difficult choices they had to make such as the closure of Horatio A Kempton School.

While saying that he liked the school Oliveira said they just didn’t have the resources to continue with the maintenance necessary to keep the school

“We’ve got buildings in this district that are over 100 years old, that was one of them,” said Oliveira “it was a great community school, it was unfortunate that we had to close it, but it was a structural issue as much as anything else.”

Oliveira also said that the low enrollment at the school just made it too costly to maintain.

Oliveira also discussed his vote in favor of New Bedford’s participation in the PARCC test saying it’s a decision he doesn’t regret.

“We were allowed an opportunity to participate with something that may or may not come due in another month and also be able to do it on a written basis…it’s a decent technological commitment if we move forward,” said Oliveira.

Oliveira also says he’s normally supportive of proposals made by Mayor Jon Mitchell and Superintendent Dr. Pia Durkin.

However, he says there have been moments of disagreement.

“There’s a law that says that the City Council can override the appropriation presented by the Mayor, as long as there’s a two-thirds vote that does not succeed the available tax levy,” said Oliveira “it was not signed we had a difference of opinion there.”

Oliveira also said he wasn’t fully supportive of the Durkin’s selection as Superintendent but says that she has done a phenomenal job.

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