Politics & Government

Challenger Seeks Ward 4 School Committee Seat

Lori Scales has been a member of the Attleboro Special Education Parent Advisory Council for 10 years.

While the number of official city council candidates grows  for Attleboro's fall election, the school committee races have been slow to form. Lori Scales became just the second certified candidate this week. She is challenging Brenda Furtado, who has represented Ward 4 for two terms and was certified for the election earlier this month .

Two other women have pulled papers for the Ward 4 contest, but sources say neither is expected to return them. This will likely be a two-person race.

Scales responded to four basic questions from Attleboro Patch this week about her candidacy:

Find out what's happening in Attleborowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Attleboro Patch: Why are you running?

Lori Scales: As a resident of Attleboro for 22 years and a parent of two children who have gone through the Attleboro public schools, pre-K to 12, I have a unique perspective as a parent of both a general education student and a special education student. I have seen what works and what doesn't work and I believe I can work collaboratively with the other members of the school committee and the administration to move the school district forward.

Find out what's happening in Attleborowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Patch: What is your background in school district involvement? 

LS: I am the immediate past chair of the Attleboro Special Education Parent Advisory Council  and a member for over 10 years. I am the current Attleboro Varsity Booster Club merchandise coordinator and the AHS  school store organizer. I am a member of the AHS parent advisory group. I am a past chair/treasurer of the Willett  and Brennan  PTOs. I have participated in past superintendent, special education director and AHS principal and assistant principal searches.

Patch: How many children do you have at the district schools?

LS: Our daughter Sarah graduated in 2011 and attends Marist College. Our son Joseph is in his second year at AHS in a substantially separate classroom for students with moderate to severe disabilities. He will be in school until he turns 22.

Patch: How many years have you lived in Attleboro?

LS: 22 years.

Listed below are the people who have pulled papers for the at-large and ward school committee races. The deadline to return them for certification is July 30. The preliminary election, if needed, will take place Sept. 17. The regular election is scheduled for Nov. 5.

At large (top three vote-getters win seats): David Murphy, Jim Stors*, Marian Crisafulli, Barbara Craw, Nancy Lamothe, Stacey Haven, Sarah Curtis and Julienne Singer

Ward 1: Shawn Moran

Ward 2: Bill Larson (incumbent) and Jim Stors

Ward 3: Chris O'Neil (incumbent), Jessica Bessell and Stephen K. Withers Jr.

Ward 4: Brenda Furtado (incumbent, certified for election), Kristina Piasecki, Diane Lynch-Bartek and Lori Scales (certified for election)

Ward 5: Laura Dolan and Nancy Lamothe

Ward 6: Stacey Haven and Mike Tyler (incumbent)

*People who have pulled papers for more than one contest will have to choose which one to enter. A candidate cannot run for a ward seat and at-large position at the same time.


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