By Geena Monahan—For the North Star Reporter
With just 725 ballots cast — about 3% of the town’s 23,909 registered voters — turnout remained low in North Attleborough’s April 7 town election, where voters elected incumbent Sarah Stone and newcomer Katherine Cloutier to the School Committee.
The four-way School Committee race was the only competitive contest on the ballot, as candidates vied to fill one open seat and one held by an incumbent. Incumbent Gideon Gaudette decided not to seek reelection, leading to the open seat.
Gaudette, who joined the committee in 2023 after a 16-year career in North Attleborough Public Schools, declined to comment on his decision earlier this year.
Stone led the field with 517 votes, followed by Cloutier with 472. Francisco Palmarin received 192 votes, and John McAdam finished with 109.
Stone, who was elected to a third term, said she was grateful for voter support amid harsh weather conditions throughout the day.
“We got snow, rain, sleet and wind — it was the coldest election I’ve ever worked,” Stone said. “It’s a true honor, and I’m really grateful to everyone who came out to support us.”
In addition to the committee, Stone is co-chair of the NA Special Education Parent Council, a committee member for the NA Farmers Market and Block Party and co-founder and president of Our Open Umbrella Inc., among other roles.
She said her focus will remain on district priorities, including budget challenges and the ongoing high school project.
“I’ve spent over six years building relationships, and that will help as we continue to work on the budget, advocate for more funding and see the high school project through to fruition,” she said.
Cloutier, who will be serving her first term, said she is ready to step into the role and contribute. She is co-chair of the Chronic Conditions and Caregivers Employee Resource Group and a former Community School PTO member.
“I’m excited and looking forward to getting to work,” Cloutier said. “I have a lot to learn and plan to spend time asking questions so I can make informed decisions.”
She said long-term priorities include making the most of limited resources.
“There’s so much need, and the budget is always a challenge,” she said. “I want to focus on how we can best use what we have to support students, teachers and the entire school community.”
With the addition of Cloutier, the seven-member School Committee is now composed of six women — the most women to serve on the committee at one time in the town’s history.
In other races, Donald Cerrone ran unopposed and won reelection to the Board of Public Works with 588 votes.
For Park Commission, Thomas DiFiore (568 votes) and John Ruppert (534 votes) were reelected to their seats, with no opposition.
No candidate appeared on the ballot for the Board of Electric Commissioners. The 112 write-in votes cast will be hand-counted and announced later in the week.
Town Clerk Patricia McNielly, who oversaw her first town election in the role, said the process ran “smoothly with no hiccups,” with no major issues reported throughout the day.