John D. Cole said timing has a lot to do with his reason for running for school board. He thinks the current board and administration are a proactive group of team players.

“I like the idea of being part of that team,” he said.

Cole, 55, has worked in information technology for Unum Corp., Fairchild Semiconductor and Duracell Battery. He lives in Scarborough with his wife and has five grown children. He would like to help serve the town and the students and, at the same time, hopes to gain a better understanding of how Scarborough works.

Cole describes himself as a lifelong learner with a passion for education. He said he is analytical and task-driven.

Cole thinks the school board needs to maintain a “good, healthy focus on the budget,” and all parties involved in education need to collaborate and communicate well.

Cole said he is also interested in helping with the transition that will occur with the statewide consolidation plan. He thinks the district should look to reorganizing bus routes in order to save money. He said the goal of reducing administrative, transportation, special education and facilities and maintenance costs by 5 percent is “reasonable and achievable.”

Updating Wentworth Intermediate School is a priority for Cole, who is concerned about the safety of students at that facility. He would like to look closely at all the options before deciding what the best course is to take – and possibly one that has not yet been thought of.

“When we look at this project,” he said, “I will encourage that we think outside of the box.”

In gaining voter approval of the school budget, Cole said, the key is to get information out to the public and keep it simple.

But all of the work Cole hopes to do on the school board is, in his mind, to one end.

“Good, skilled, smart, sharp kids – that’s the top priority,” he said.

Scarborough School Board – Cole: Task-driven team member