Samuel J. Cofone’s dissatisfaction with the current school board is his motivation for running.

“I think we need some more common-sense people on the school board,” he said. “You need to do what the community wants. Otherwise, they’ll run for your seats.

Cofone, 44, and his wife own the Downeaster Motel on Route 1. He has been a deputy sheriff for Cumberland County for 15 years and has lived in Scarborough for a decade.

Cofone, who has two children at Scarborough High School and one who has graduated, said he would like to be more involved in the school system.

Though Cofone believes that Scarborough’s curriculum is strong, he said he thought there could be more emphasis on the study of foreign languages.

He is a member of the cheerleading, football and wrestling booster clubs, and said the booster clubs are treated unfairly. However, he said eh does support new policies in place for booster clubs that will “make the financing transparent.”

“It needs to be out in the open for everyone to see,” he said.

Cofone said he thinks the recently implemented Sports Done Right program is unnecessary because Scarborough athletes already practice sportsmanship, and it doesn’t allow the booster clubs to raise funds.

Cofone does not think a new intermediate school should be built, but instead supports upgrading the current building.

He said he supports consolidation statewide, but is “glad Scarborough didn’t need to do it.” He thinks the town may still be able to save money by cutting on administrative and transportation costs.

Cofone supports citizens voting to approve the school budget, as now required under the new consolidation law.

“If it doesn’t pass the first time, the people on the school board didn’t do their job,” he said.

When it comes to priorities, Cofone believes the first should be to “do the right thing for students” before addressing the needs of parents or teachers.

Cofone said as a school board member, he would work to change the way the schools are operated.

“I think they need to be more customer-service friendly,” he said.

Scarborough School Board – Cofone: Changes needed on school board