Council, School Committee to Meet in Joint Session to Discuss Discipline Concerns

New Bedford's City Council and School Committee will conduct a rare joint session meeting next month to discuss rising concerns over discipline issues in schools.

"We have to start putting aside 'The Mayor does his job, the Council does theirs and the School Committee is going to do theirs," said Ward 2 City Councilor Steve Martins. "Everyone's an elected official, everyone's serving the same constituency, let's all be in the same room and lets all work together for the City of New Bedford."

The meeting is slated for April 13 at 7 p.m. on the third floor of the New Bedford Public Library.

Martins suggested the neutral location will be more welcoming to both bodies.

City Council President Linda Morad and School Committee Vice-Chair Josh Amaral will co-chair the meeting.

When elected council president, Morad made it clear she wanted to create more collaboration within city government.

"I think that we are talking and we are working together as I hoped and I know my colleagues had hoped we would do," Morad said after Tuesday's council meeting.

The joint session will be open to the public.