Attleboro Mayor Kevin Dumas is unopposed and there is little competition for city council, so the most interesting races in Tuesday's city election are for school committee.

The school committee usually is overlooked during campaign season, but this time around there is not only a lot of competition, but some clear-cut differences with a theme. The candidates and their supporters have been going at it through the letters to the editor section of The Sun Chronicle.

Most of the action has centered on incumbents Robbie Wuilleumier, Jackie Romaniecki, Helen Johnson, Shawn Moran and Fran Zito versus challengers Ray DiCiaccio, Brenda Furtado, Jim Stors and David Sidman.

There have been allegations from backers on both sides that the other side is running as a slate.

Wuilleumier, Romaniecki and Johnson wrote a joint letter criticizing the challengers that they have campaigned together. Some of the challengers have been seen in Morin's restaurant talking to teachers together, and have similar platforms. The meeting turned a little comical when the two sides bumped into each other.

What divides the two groups is their view of the proper role of the school committee. The challengers charge that the incumbents act like they work for Superintendent Pia Durkin, rather than parents. In their view, parental concerns are often dismissed and serious issues are not addressed in public.

For instance, in the past few years virtually every principal in Attleboro has either quit or been forced out. Some replacement principals have already been replaced. Brennan Middle School is on its third principal in four years.

The turnover and low morale among teachers are signs that something is wrong, but the school committee will not address the issue, according to the challengers.

Discipline is another concern of theirs. Serious offenders are sometimes given light punishment, such as in-house suspension.

The schools are also losing some of the human touch, they say, with recess, snack time and field trips either being eliminated or reduced to make more time for drilling for the MCAS tests.

And then there was a communication break down at the start of school over the school busing policy, with many parents left in the dark.

The incumbents contend that the schools have been improving under Durkin. They see their job as supporting her in her efforts, not trying to run the school system themselves.

They do not see a high rate of turnover in school principals as being unusual or troublesome. Years ago, the school committee was marred by constant bickering and they do not want to return to those days. If they have an issue to discuss with the superintendent, they do it away from the cameras that broadcast school committee meetings.

The issues have never fully been aired because of the lack of debates and one-on-one exchanges, but it is safe to assume that if some of the challengers win, the superintendent will be publicly questioned a lot more in the future than she is now. JIM HAND covers politics for The Sun Chronicle. His commentaries appear in this space on Saturdays. Contact him at 508-236-0399 or at jhand@thesunchronicle.com.