Wyndham Raymond board authorizes up to $255,000 for propane generator at Raymond Elementary
August 21, 2025 | RSU 14 , School Districts, Maine
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The Wyndham Raymond School District Board of Directors on Aug. 20 authorized the superintendent to contract with Milton Catt for up to $255,000 to purchase and install a propane-powered generator at Raymond Elementary School.
The board approved the purchase by voice vote after a staff presentation that described the system as a long-term solution to the school’s increased electrical load and a potential community resource in emergencies. "The generator system is the best long term solution that he's proposing for that building," Superintendent Chris Howell said, saying the new system will handle electrical load the existing unit cannot.
Why it matters: district staff said the generator will power heating, ventilation and food-service systems and keep on-site emergency equipment operational; Raymond Elementary also houses an emergency-services radio repeater on the roof. Howell said the installation will use funds already allocated to the RES electrical and HVAC project.
Board members heard that equipment lead times are long. Howell told the board most generators have roughly a 24-week lead time and that the district will rent a temporary generator that can run the building’s systems until the purchased unit arrives. "We will be renting a generator for a few months because . . . electrical lead times are very long," he said.
The motion authorizing the superintendent to enter the contract passed on a roll-call vote with board members voting in favor. The motion instructed the superintendent to proceed with purchase and installation through the prescribed funding source; the contract award and installation are subject to standard vendor scheduling and permitting.
Background and next steps: the board packet included a staff memo and bid work. District leaders said a similar generator design will be used in the new school at 61 Windham Center. The district will proceed with a rental solution to maintain building operations until the purchased system is delivered and installed.
The board took the vote after hearing the recommendation and discussing operational and community-resilience benefits; no board member recorded opposition.
The board approved the purchase by voice vote after a staff presentation that described the system as a long-term solution to the school’s increased electrical load and a potential community resource in emergencies. "The generator system is the best long term solution that he's proposing for that building," Superintendent Chris Howell said, saying the new system will handle electrical load the existing unit cannot.
Why it matters: district staff said the generator will power heating, ventilation and food-service systems and keep on-site emergency equipment operational; Raymond Elementary also houses an emergency-services radio repeater on the roof. Howell said the installation will use funds already allocated to the RES electrical and HVAC project.
Board members heard that equipment lead times are long. Howell told the board most generators have roughly a 24-week lead time and that the district will rent a temporary generator that can run the building’s systems until the purchased unit arrives. "We will be renting a generator for a few months because . . . electrical lead times are very long," he said.
The motion authorizing the superintendent to enter the contract passed on a roll-call vote with board members voting in favor. The motion instructed the superintendent to proceed with purchase and installation through the prescribed funding source; the contract award and installation are subject to standard vendor scheduling and permitting.
Background and next steps: the board packet included a staff memo and bid work. District leaders said a similar generator design will be used in the new school at 61 Windham Center. The district will proceed with a rental solution to maintain building operations until the purchased system is delivered and installed.
The board took the vote after hearing the recommendation and discussing operational and community-resilience benefits; no board member recorded opposition.
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