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RSU 25 board reallocates leftover gym funds toward upgrade of aging building automation system
Summary
RSU 25 voted to reallocate leftover funds from a middle‑school gym floor project to begin replacing a building automation system that currently runs on an unsupported Windows 7 platform; staff warned the system is security‑vulnerable and a failure could force manual operation of building systems.
The RSU 25 school board voted to reassign leftover funds from the Bucksport Middle School gym floor project to help pay for replacing the district’s building automation system, citing security risks and operational fragility.
Board members moved and approved the reallocation after district staff described the current control system as running on a Windows 7 operating system that is no longer supported. The chair said the system’s age poses both reliability and cybersecurity risks and that "if it were to go down tomorrow we may not have school," prompting discussion of the need to modernize the controls.
Why this matters: the automation system controls heating and other building operations. District staff told the board the system runs on an unsupported platform and is isolated from the rest of the network as a mitigation; they described the configuration as an "absolute target" for attackers and said a replacement would improve redundancy and security.
What the board approved: the motion redirected the precise leftover balance from the Middle School gymnasium floor loan repayment toward the automation upgrade. Meeting materials and discussion noted the leftover sum would not fully cover the project: staff said the full replacement was estimated to be roughly in the low six‑figures, so the reallocated money will be used toward the cost and the remainder will be covered from other identified budget lines.
District context: board members said the original mechanical project that replaced boilers and other equipment did not include updating the automation operating system. Facilities staff said the upgrade is not an overnight fix but could be completed in phases, with substantial work outside of school hours. The board also confirmed the funds being reallocated are held in a special revenue account tied to the original project and do not require voter approval.
What’s next: staff said they expect procurement and phased installation to proceed over the spring, with much of the work scheduled for non‑instructional periods. The board voted to reallocate the funds and the motion carried unanimously with one absence.
