Board approves electrical work for generators at three district sites

The Moreland School District Board of Education approved a contract with Sanchez Electric Inc. to install transfer switches that will make it easier to connect recently purchased portable generators at three district locations.

Staff explained the district had already purchased several generators — to support large freezers at EDS and Moreland Middle School and to keep the district office internet running — and the transfer switches will simplify safe connections in outages.

A staff member described the purpose: “We purchased a few generators, for basically EDS and MMS, the 2 big freezers,” and added one was for the district office “because it controls the Internet. So power to go out and keep the Internet going at the school sites.” The presenter said the switches make connections easier for electricians when equipment is relocated during storms.

Trustees asked whether the generators had already been purchased; staff confirmed they had. A trustee compared the system to a home automatic transfer system and staff clarified the district’s approach is different for safety and theft-prevention reasons, and that the devices will still require personnel to move equipment as needed.

A trustee moved the contract; another seconded. The board approved the contract by voice vote with members saying “Aye.”

The meeting transcript does not record the contract price or a detailed installation schedule. Staff said electricians would still be needed to make final hookups and that the switches were not a standalone automated system like a residential automatic transfer switch.

Trustees noted the switches would improve the district’s ability to deploy backup power during outages but did not set a follow-up reporting deadline in the meeting.