The first member of the City Council to oppose the expansion of charter schools is Hugh Dunn. Mayor Mitchell and former Mayor Lang also oppose this expansion.
Alma del Mar, a charter school in New Bedford, is asking the Commonwealth to expand its population by over 1,000 new students. The mayor of the city opposes it.
Earlier this week, New Bedford Schools Superintendent Dr. Pia Durkin outlined her initial budget proposal, asking for nearly $147 million, including over $7 million more in enhancements. In his weekly appearance on WBSM, Mayor Jon Mitchell said it's too soon to tell if the City will be able to fund the requested budget.