Former Teacher Considers School Committee Run

Two years after she retired from the Attleboro school district, former teacher and reading specialist Mariann Crisafulli is considering returning as a member of the school committee. She pulled nomination papers Friday for a potential run in the contest for three at-large seats.

Crisafulli worked in the district for 26 years, including 19 as a first-grade teacher and the final seven as a reading specialist. She also has four adult children who went through the local system and graduated from Attleboro High School. Crisafulli remains connected to the district as a volunteer at Hyman Fine Elementary School and she said she follows the actions of the school committee.

"I think things need to change on the school committee," Crisafulli said. "The new superintendent who will come in soon needs to be treated with respect. [Outgoing Superintendent] Dr. Durkin wasn't treated that way by some school committee members, and that's really bad for the school department."

David Murphy is the only current at-large member who has pulled papers. The other two at-large members are Committee Chair Mike Tyler and Committee Secretary Barbara Craw. Former Committee member Jim Stors has pulled papers for the race. He has also pulled papers for the Ward 2 contest. He must pick one.

Potential candidates have until July 30 to pull papers and return them to City Hall with the required number of signatures (100 for at-large and 50 for wards) from Attleboro residents. Crisafulli said she has not decided whether she would return hers.

"I am going to talk to the different people in the city, some I know and some I don't know, and see what their feelings are and how they would like to see things changed before I make my decision," Crisafulli said.

Of the current ward representatives, Ward 2's Bill Larson, Ward 3's Chris O'Neil and Ward 4's Brenda Furtado have pulled papers. Ward 1's Teri Enegren, Ward 5's Fran Zito and Ward 6's Ken Parent have not made a move. 

Potential challengers in the ward contests have surfaced. In addition to Stors eyeing Ward 2, Jessica Bessell pulled papers for the Ward 3 election and told Patch she would run. Kristina Piasecki and Diane Lynch-Bartek have pulled papers to challenge Furtado in Ward 4. Neither potential Ward 4 challenger responded to phone calls from Patch.