NEW BEDFORD The New Bedford City Council voted unanimously Thursday night to begin the process of renaming one of the city s three middle schools after the late former Mayor Frederick Kalisz Jr.
Seven councilors Ian Abreu, Naomi Carney, Maria Giesta, Brian Gomes, Linda Morad, William Markey and Scott Lima filed the motion to rededicate one of the schools in his name during the council meeting.
Kalisz, who died at 63 from COVID-19 complications on Jan. 27, oversaw the construction of three new middle schools during his tenure as mayor from 1998 to 2006: Roosevelt Middle School, 2001; Normandin Middle School, 2003; and Keith Middle School, 2006.
The councilors wrote the new schools were the first to be constructed in almost 30 years as a result of Kalisz s unrelenting leadership and guidance.