ATTLEBORO - Members of the city's reshaped school committee say they'll be able to work together to advance local education despite a hard-fought and at times bitter election campaign.

"I'm looking forward to working with other members of the committee, whether they are incumbents or whether they're new members," said Ward 6 winner Bruce Levine, who edged out incumbent Michael Tyler to return to the board after a two-year hiatus. "I'm hoping that we can continue to build on all the good work that's been done."

Brenda Furtado, who upset veteran Jackie Romaniecki in Ward 4, said she recognized the hard work of those who have served on the school committee in the past, and said she'd work to make common cause with her colleagues.

"Together, I think we're going to make a difference," she said.

Ward 5 incumbent Frances Zito said all members will have to look past the hard campaigning for the benefit of children. "If we're all going to be on this committee together, then we've all got to work together," she said.

Zito, who eaked out a seven-vote win over challenger David Sidman, might have to withstand a recount. Sidman said he plans to file for a recount formally in the next two days.

Four incumbents fell to challengers in Tuesday's school committee election, one of the most hotly contested in recent memory.

The campaign featured pointed criticism of current school committee members over such issues as charges of the committee's passive relationship with Superintendent Pia Durkin, teacher morale and the loss of several of the district's principals and central office administrators.

In the final week, Furtado, along with outgoing member Frank D'Agostino, roiled the waters with an allegation of a three-year-old open meeting law violation by the current board - eliciting denials and resentment from some sitting members.

In the end, candidates on both sides professed only to be trying to do what's right for the city's school children.

"None of it was personal," said successful at-large candidate Ray DiCiaccio, who said some of the challengers' rhetoric might have been incorrectly perceived as anti-Durkin.

DiCiaccio said Durkin has had major achievements and that he and other members would like to help in areas that could be improved.

He said he has faith the new school committee can move forward constructively.

"They're all quality people," he said. "They're really interested in the kids of Attleboro." Those who ended up on the wrong side of Tuesday's balloting tried to be philosophical.

"It was a close race," said Ward 6 incumbent Michael Tyler. "People wanted change and I got caught up in that. The people have spoken."

Romaniecki, a veteran teacher who served on the school board from 1996 only to be soundly defeated by Furtado, said the defeat doesn't mark the end to her efforts on behalf of education.

"Schools have been a part of my life since I was 6 years old," she said. "People like that are going to stay connected."