Taunton School Committee Elects New Chair After Three-Round Tie-Breaking Vote

TAUNTON — January 7, 2026 — Taunton School Committee elects a new chair after three rounds of voting end a four-to-four deadlock. Donna Sharps defeated incumbent chair Dr. Gregory DeMello five to four at the committee's January 7 organizational meeting, with Mayor Shaunna O'Connell casting the deciding vote after two member-only rounds each ended in a tie. Christine Fagan was re-elected secretary unanimously. The committee publicly assigned all eleven standing subcommittees and eight bargaining unit committees in a live session, with DeMello named chair of Finance and Law, Community Outreach, and Unit B bargaining. Approval of the bargaining subcommittee slate was deferred to January 17 after Superintendent John Cabral raised a potential conflict of interest involving member Melissa Santos's MTA membership, prompting a motion to seek a legal opinion from school district attorney Colby Brunt. The committee also approved $1,036,011.06 in bills payable, with DeMello recusing himself from a $5,376 payment to Pride, Inc., where he serves as co-treasurer.