McCarthy and Bersell Secure School Committee Seats as Voters Reject non-binding CPA Tax Relief Questions
NORWELL — May 17, 2026 — In a highly anticipated local election shaped by the lingering financial fallout of last year’s failed town override, Norwell voters elected Jana McCarthy and Elizabeth “Liz” Bursell to the School Committee while decisively defeating a push to eliminate or reduce the town’s 3% Community Preservation Act (CPA) property tax surcharge . The election, which drew 1,294 voters for a 14.9% participation rate, resets the town’s educational leadership as municipal leaders brace for mounting structural deficits .
The Full Story
The race for two open seats on the Norwell School Committee took center stage during the May 12 candidate forum sponsored by the Norwell Chamber of Commerce. Candidates McCarthy, Bursell, and Kara Voutour clashed over how the district should navigate a lean operating budget after voters rejected a funding override the previous year.
Voutour, a public school teacher of 30 years who had publicly opposed last year’s override, campaigned on a platform of structural innovation and a fresh analysis of spending. She drew scrutiny in the Candidates Forum during public comment over her previous assertions that Norwell core teachers handled lower student-load averages (~80 students) than neighboring districts .
McCarthy, a corporate banking professional, and Bursell, a licensed school nurse and PTO leader, countered by emphasizing that Norwell already maintains a lower per-pupil expenditure than comparable South Shore towns. Both argued that further budget tightening risked inflicting long-term harm on the district’s competitive standing. High school English curriculum coordinator Jessica Johnston supported this view from the floor, noting that advanced placement (AP) and core class sizes were already pushing upwards of 24 to 27 students.
When the unofficial ballots were tallied on Saturday night, McCarthy led the ticket with 1,014 votes, followed closely by Bursell with 963 votes. Voutour finished a distant third with 359 votes.
Beyond the school races, the ballot featured two non-binding advisory questions regarding the town’s 3% CPA surcharge. Question 1A, which asked if residents favored completely eliminating the surcharge, was defeated with 741 “No” votes to 453 “Yes” votes . The follow-up contingency proposal, Question 1B, which sought to reduce the surcharge below 3%, was also rejected by a margin of 504 to 409 .
Incumbents running unopposed across other major municipal seats easily secured renewal. Unofficial tallies counted 1,010 votes for James Koehler (Board of Assessors), 1,023 votes for Caitlin E. Warren (Board of Health), and 972 votes for Brian M. Greenberg (Select Board). Incumbent Town Clerk Dannielle C. Shepherd pulled the highest individual layout of the night with 1,059 votes.
Official Minutes & Data
Key Election Outcomes
School Committee (Vote for TWO):
Jana D. McCarthy: 1,014 votes (ELECTED)
Elizabeth D. Bersell: 963 votes (ELECTED)
Kara L. Voutour: 359 votes
Question 1A (Eliminate 3% CPA Surcharge):
Outcome: Failed (Non-binding)
Vote: 453 YES / 741 NO / 100 Blanks
Question 1B (Reduce 3% CPA Surcharge):
Outcome: Failed (Non-binding)
Vote: 409 YES / 504 NO / 381 Blanks
Town Clerk (Vote for ONE):
Dannielle C. Shepherd: 1,059 votes (ELECTED)
Select Board (Vote for ONE):
Brian M. Greenberg: 972 votes (ELECTED)
Source Video: Norwell Scholastic Television (NSTV) / Live Broadcast at Norwell Town Hall