GARDINER — Four candidates are vying for one spot to represent the city on the Maine School Administrative District 11 school board. Current incumbent Diane Potter is not seeking reelection.

Two of the candidates — Marc Cone, 63, executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association, and Cullen McGough, 48, director of communication, IT and marketing at Chewonki — previously served on the school board. They are up against two political newcomers: Michelle Tucker, 45, a social service specialist; and Nathan Mitchell, 33, a physical therapist, both .

MSAD 11 encompasses Gardiner, West Gardiner, Pittston and Randolph. Its school board has 12 members; five are from Gardiner.

Cone and McGough both decided to run again to make the schools stronger — Cone for his grandson and McGough for his two sons.

Cone is a lifelong resident of Gardiner and served on the board from 2009-18. He said he is a strong advocate for education and wants to help the school district look for innovative ways to improve learning, which he thinks he can do with his background in science. Cone says that now, more than ever, teachers need support and the school board has to help find ways to keep inspiring them.

“Overall, I think (the district) does a good job and is effective, but there is always room for improvement,” Cone said. “Not having been specifically in the trenches, I can’t necessarily identify things, but in general, I think improving efficiencies and promoting a positive system that supports the students, teachers and administration.”

McGough moved to Gardiner nine years ago and has twice filled in on the school board for members who resigned before their term expired.

He has a similar approach to Cone and believes that having a strong education system will improve the city and systems within it. McGough said that through his professional work at Chewonki, an alternative learning school, he is familiar with accreditation standards and how to properly manage children and finances. McGough has two children in the Gardiner elementary schools, where he said they have great teachers. McGough said the district could improve the infrastructure of Gardiner Area High School to be a more appealing facility for attracting and retaining staff, he said.

“I’m the kind of person who thinks things don’t operate in isolation. I think the city is great because of a good school — it’s a natural virtuous feedback loop when everyone works towards these goals,” he said.

Mitchell graduated from MSAD 11 schools and was urged to run for school board by his friends at Rotary Club of Gardiner. Mitchell has worked with children for most of his life at the Boys & Girls Club and managed the club’s section at Chelsea Elementary School from 2014-21. He said he will bring a fresh set of eyes, as a young candidate and with his experience working with students. The most pressing issue to him is the teacher retention rate.

“I think one thing is the retention of teachers, especially education technicians. I feel like whenever I see stories on the news, the education technicians are always the first ones to go (during budget cuts) and there is a need for them. Also working on ways to invest and retain the education technicians. Having done that job myself, I’ve seen the first-hand impact it can make. Not only for those who work in a general education classroom, but those in special education, one on one. They are so vital to the well-being of students,” he said.

Tucker said she was inspired to run when she heard about the policy that allows transgender students to use the bathroom of the gender they align with, which she feels is one of the most pressing issues in the school district. She also wants parents to be involved with their student’s education, every step of the way, which as a single parent, she feels is important.

The school district does well with clubs and extra curricular activities, she said, but believes the school board is not letting other points of view speak.

“I have seen instances of aggression against school board members who don’t have the majority view of various social issues and I think everyone deserves respect and a seat at the table and I don’t believe the current board is listening to students, parents and the desire of parents and are fulfilling an agenda,” Tucker said.