Municipal budget passes during Windham Annual Town meeting

By Ed Pierce

In a 2 hour and 45-minute Windham Annual Town Meeting, just 102 registered voters determined the fate of the Municipal Town Budget proposal for 2026-2027 on Saturday, June 13 at Windham High School.

Windham Town Manager Robert  Burns, right, explains a
warrant article to voters which was part of the 2026-2027
Windham Municipal Budget proposal voted on at the
Windham Annual Town meeting at Windham High School 
on Saturday, June 13. Moderator Gary Plummer listens as
Burns gives an answer to a resident's question.
PHOTO BY ED PIERCE   

A total of 59 registered voters were in favor of passing the $55,788,720 budget, with 43 voters opposed. That’s a 10.1 percent increase from last year’s budget, which expires at the end of this month. The total municipal budget for the Town of Windham for 2026-2027 will be $37,033,996. There are 14,135 registered voters in Windham.

During the meeting, Windham Town Manager Robert Burns explained that RSU 14’s proposed school budget increased by more than $4 million or $13.4 percent and was passed by voters during a referendum on June 9, while Cumberland County taxes will also rise by about 9 percent for 2026-2027.

Burns said that the Town of Windham’s budget only increased by 4.9 percent or about $82 on a $433,000 home. Overall, he said the tax increase on that same $433,000 home will be about $524.

In reviewing the first 21 warrant articles at the Annual Town Meeting, Burns said Windham’s only Town Capital Project for the 2026/2027 year is the MacIntosh Brook Culvert Replacement at a cost of $624,000 with $208,000 of that cost funded by a grant.

He said that the budget increase was not the result of new municipal programs, projects or capital spending, but the cumulative effect of costs largely beyond municipal control, with more than 60 percent of a typical local tax dollar in Windham now going toward education, a share that continues to grow as state funding formulas have shifted funding responsibility to municipalities.

Burns said the town’s municipal budget proposal was the culmination of a process that started in January involving all town departments and then formulated by the town’s Finance Committee. Upon receiving the budget proposal from the Finance Committee, the Windham Town Council made further cuts to arrive at the figure presented to voters at the Annual Town Meeting.

After a lengthy discussion regarding the impact of property taxes upon the community and questions about the town's growth, former Windham Town Councilor Liz Wisecup proposed a motion that was seconded to amend Warrant Article 7, Windham’s proposed municipal budget of $37,033,996 by a 2 percent reduction.

Burns explained that if that amendment passed, cuts would need to be made and a new budget  formalized and approved by voters under state law no later than Aug. 11. He said that an emergency town meeting would need to be called to prevent town departments from shuttering July 1 without an approved town budget for the new fiscal year and that included police and fire protection for Windham. Wisecup’s motion was voted down and a show of hands to vote on the proposed budget was deemed to be close by Moderator Gary Plummer, who then asked for an actual count to take place by Windham Town Clerk Anthony Blasi and his staff.

Funding requests including purchasing a new ambulance for Windham Fire-Rescue by creating a bond, new tasers for Windham Police, new servers, firewalls and software licensing for the Windham Police Department, the first year of a three-year Comprehensive Plan Update, Community Park Stormwater Treatment, creation of Forbes Lane Park, repaving of the Mountain Division Trail, and a Brine System and Calcium Tank for Public Works were all approved by voters. 

Under the new budget, new equipment to be purchased includes a Tilt Trailer, Mower, Dump Truck, Pickup Truck, Chipper, Asphalt Planer, and Used Bucket Truck. The town also plans various equipment rentals, supplies and materials, gravel road reconstruction, surveying, pavement assessment, paving and reconstruction work, roof repair for the Windham sand shed, Varney Mill Estates drainage, a wash bay upgrade for Public Works and continuing the Smith Cemetery expansion project.

Ongoing capital projects approved by voters during the Annual Town meeting include the North Windham Wastewater Treatment Plant and Conveyance System, the North Windham Wastewater Treatment System Service Connections, the MaineDOT North Windham Moves Project Design installing connector roads, adaptive tech signals, and bike/pedestrian lanes, preliminary engineering of the Windham Middle School reuse to a community center, and the Gambo Property road installation and Public Works Laydown Yard.

Voters also approved recreational, Tax Increment Finance district, and unassigned funding requests as requested by the town during the meeting.

Windham Town Council Chair Mark Morrison said that the low participation of voters at the town meeting shows why a charter amendment is needed to change the budget process to a public vote by secret ballot like the annual RSU 14 budget vote every spring to increase participation. Morrison said the council hopes to have the charter amendment on the ballot for voters in November. <

Summerfest welcomes community for a day of fun and first-ever drone show

By Erin Rose

A new drone exhibition to celebrate the nation’s birthday will wow Windham residents at this year’s Summerfest.

The Windham Police Honor Guard will lead the
annual Summerfest Parade, kicking off a day of
fun at Windham High School on Saturday,
June 20. Parade participants will line up at
11 a.m. at Windham Public Works and the
parade route follows School Road to
Windham Center Road before turning right
onto G\Fray Road and proceeding to 
Educational Way. COURTESY PHOTO   

The annual event will be held at the Windham High School on Saturday, June 20, with the day’s festivities kicking off with a parade set to begin at noon.

The organizing committee chose the theme of “Sun, Stars and Stripes” to blend the annual event with the country’s 250th birthday this year. The day’s motto is “Bringing Unity to the Community,” and the organizing committee is hopeful the event will inspire people to get to know their neighbors.

“People nowadays don’t know their neighbors,” said Deb Matthews, the chair of the Summerfest committee in her fifth year leading the team organizing the event. “This is a way we can get to know everybody in our community.”

“It’s so important to bring your mom and dad, bring your kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews,” she said. “Come and bring unity to our community.”

The parade will begin lining up at 11 a.m. at the Windham Public Works building. It will take Windham Center Road then left onto School Road before turning right onto Gray Road (Route 202) where it will proceed to its end at Educational Way. Awards will be presented in several categories, including best illustration of the event’s theme and motto.

The Modern Woodsman of America Hometown Hero, Karen Rumo, will be honored in the parade. A member of the Windham Summerfest organizing committee, Rumo is a long-time Windham resident and was selected because of her devotion to giving back to the community.

“Karen is a bright light. She is so generous and so kind and she is a hero,” Matthews said. “She loves our community, she loves giving back, and she loves family. She has the pulse of the community.”

The parade’s Grand Marshal will be Windham High School’s popular Director of Choral Music, Dr. Richard Nickerson, who is retiring this year after nearly 40 years at the school.

“He is the epitome of a grand marshal – a person that brings unity to the community,” Matthews said, noting Nickerson’s work to establish the Windham Chamber Singers, who have performed internationally during the director’s tenure. “He doesn’t realize how much of an impact he’s had on those students, their parents and their grandparents, and our community.”

Nickerson was shocked when he found out he’d been selected to be honored as the parade’s Grand Marshal.

“I never in a million years thought I would be asked to be the Grand Marshal of a parade,” he said. “This entire year has felt like an out of body experience.”

In addition to being Grand Marshal, Nickerson will also join other local teachers to perform on the Main Stage at 7 p.m. with their band “Cousin Itt.”

The event will formally open at 1 p.m., including the beginning of the entertainment, which will include performances from Andi Fawcett and Doubting Gravity on the Main Stage and Tyler Dhone on the Hall Implement/George Hall Memorial Stage. Phil Smith, a magician who has appeared previously at Summerfest, will be roaming the grounds and performing spontaneously as people gather. Spark You will also be performing at 1 p.m., creating different science experiments to entertain viewers. The Refuge Church will be sponsoring and manning a dozen bounce houses from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“They let all these adorable kids bounce their little hearts out,” Matthews said. “It’s so important to include them and make people aware of these wonderful businesses and organizations that are part of our community.”

The annual Pat Moody Memorial 3v3 Basketball Tournament will begin at 2 p.m., and there will be several rounds of Bingo, hosted by the Lions Club, which will be called by Town Manager Robert Burns, Windham Fire/Rescue Chief Brent Libby, and Summerfest organizing committee member Tom Matthews, who manages all of the day’s entertainment and musical acts.

The drone show will start at 9 p.m. and will be followed by a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.

There will also be a variety of food available for purchase from non-profit organizations at the event, including Barry’s famous barbeque, chicken, macaroni and cheese and coleslaw, sold by the Windham Snowmobile Drifters, mocktails, walking tacos. Hot dogs, hamburgers, soda and chips will be prepared by non-profit Keeping Kids Safe. The group has been in attendance at the event for a decade, and it provides them with its sole major fundraiser for the year.

“We love the people from Windham,” said Mike O’Neal, founder of Keeping Kids Safe, who is currently seeking sponsors to help support the cost of developing a new app that would provide alerts for missing children and juveniles based on the user’s geolocation, beyond what is available through an Amber Alert, and searching for community partners to join the effort. “The people have embraced Keeping Kids Safe. We’re always packed, and the committee are incredible and amazing people.”

The theme of community runs throughout the day and is evident by both participants and members of the community groups who have booths during the event.

“Windham has gotten much bigger since I started here, but it still has that small town feel where people look out for each other,” Nickerson said. “That’s the wonderful thing about a small-town community.”

Kate Turpen, Board President for the Windham Raymond Pride Planning Committee, echoed the same sentiment when asked why their organization has enjoyed managing a booth at the event for three years. The group will be selling rainbow snow cones this year, which can be fully customized with different colors or flavors.

“It’s a really great opportunity for our community to come together in one place, and to get to see familiar faces having fun,” they said. “It’s really important that families can come and enjoy without a financial barrier.”

Matthews stressed that financial concerns should not prevent people from attending and bringing their families to the free event.

“If you can’t afford to pay, come and play, on me. No charge,” she said. “If you can’t afford to buy food from the non-profits, bring a picnic lunch and sit on the field and enjoy the day for free.”

“It’s so important for us to bring this community together, to share this beautiful community, “Matthews said. “That’s why we work so hard to raise the money we raise. That’s why we work so hard to make sure that everyone understands that this event is free.”

While the town donates money for Summerfest, the organizing committee has fundraised to fully support the event financially and its $40,000 budget. The town Parks and Recreation Department also contributes time and manpower to the event, including Director Linda Brooks who, “brings enlightenment to areas we’re grey on,” Matthews said.

“It’s the committee that’s doing the work,” she said. “We appreciate everything the town does for us. We’re blessed to have the Parks and Recreation Department.” 

The event is rain or shine, and Matthews says that in the past, they’ve endured pouring rain, sleet, and thunderstorms to put on the community day.

“It is what it is,” she said, explaining that they’ve only had a few vendors or performers cancel due to weather. “They want to be there. The excitement we all feel on that day really draws them in.”

Volunteers are still needed for the event, for both the organizers and the groups that will have booths to man.

“It’s the problem we’ve discovered – Every organization, non-profit, or business that wants to participate needs volunteers,” Matthews said. “It’s something as small as watching the booth while they take a lunch.”

“We need people to help with the parade and people to just be there to help,” she said. “There’s always a need for bathroom breaks and lunch breaks.”

Anyone interested in volunteering for the Summerfest Committee or looking for more information about the event should visit the Summerfest website at www.WindhamSummerfest.com. <

Windham prepares for Annual Town Meeting on Saturday

By Ed Pierce

The Annual Town Meeting in Windham represents a fundamental and important part of governance and has since the town adopted its current form of town council form of government in 1975.

Windham voters will gather at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 13 in
the Windham High School Auditorium for the Annual Town
Meeting for 2026. Decisions made by voters will determine
approval of the town's annual budget as put forward by the
Windham Town Council.  PHOTO BY KEIH MANK    

The meeting affords every registered voter in Windham an opportunity to express their opinion and vote on town warrant articles and the town’s annual budget for the coming year. This year’s Annual Town Meeting in Windham will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 13 in the Windham High School Auditorium at 406 Gray Road in Windham.

Last year a total of 130 Windham residents and members of the Windham Town Council attended the 4 ½ hour meeting and questioned nearly all the 30 proposed town warrant articles. 

The meeting was not without controversy as voters initially voted not to approve a warrant article regarding the town’s operating budget to fund General Government for the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year. Many of those voters left the meeting after that, only to discover that the operating budget warrant article was brought back to the floor for consideration and subsequently passed.

This year, Windham Town Manager Robert Burns is presenting a total budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 of $55,788,720, up 10.1 percent from last year’s budget of $50,865,671. Of that 10.1 percent increase, voters attending the town meeting will be making decisions about 27 warrant articles comprising the municipal budget, which is a 4.9 percent increase. Voters have already approved the proposed RSU 14 budget during a referendum on Tuesday, and that budget included an increase of 13.4 percent from last year. 

Burns said Windham’s lone potential Town Capital Project for the 2026/2027 year is the MacIntosh Brook Culvert Replacement at a cost of $624,000 with $208,000 of that cost funded by a grant. He said that the budget increase was not the result of new municipal programs, projects or capital spending, but the cumulative effect of costs largely beyond municipal control, with more than 60 percent of a typical local tax dollar in Windham now going toward education, a share that continues to grow as state funding formulas have shifted funding responsibility to municipalities.

He said RSU 14’s proposed school budget increased by more than $4 million, while Cumberland County taxes will also rise by about 9 percent. For the owner of an average-priced Windham home valued at about $433,000, if the annual budget is approved by voters, the increase would be about $524 more in annual property taxes.

Funding requests include purchasing a new ambulance for Windham Fire-Rescue, new tasers for Windham Police, new servers, firewalls and software licensing for the Windham Police Department, the first year of a three-year Comprehensive Plan Update, Community Park Stormwater Treatment, creation of Forbes Lane Park, repaving of the Mountain Division Trail, and a Brine System and Calcium Tank for Public Works.

New equipment to be purchased if the budget is approved includes a Tilt Trailer, Mower, Dump Truck, Pickup Truck, Chipper, Asphalt Planer, and Used Bucket Truck. The town also plans various equipment rentals, supplies and materials, gravel road reconstruction, surveying, pavement assessment, paving and reconstruction work, roof repair for the Windham sand shed, Varney Mill Estates drainage, a wash bay upgrade for Public Works and continuing the Smith Cemetery expansion project.

Ongoing capital projects for Windham include the North Windham Wastewater Treatment Plant and Conveyance System, the North Windham Wastewater Treatment System Service Connections, the MaineDOT North Windham Moves Project Design installing connector roads, adaptive tech signals, and bike/pedestrian lanes, preliminary engineering of the Windham Middle School reuse to a community center, and the Gambo Property road installation and Public Works Laydown Yard. 

Voters will decide if $10,602,273 in miscellaneous non-tax revenues should be appropriated for the town budget including Local Road Assistance, Boat, Snowmobile, and ATV Registration Fees, Homestead Exemption Reimbursement, Tree Growth Reimbursement, General Assistance Reimbursement, Veteran’s Exemption Reimbursement, and any State or Federal grants or other funds as anticipated to be provided by the Maine State Legislature or Federal Government, toward the total Municipal Budget for fiscal year 2026-2027 as recommended by the Windham Town Council.

Should voters reject the proposed town budget, warrant articles for funding for each town department and services would then have to be considered.

The final five warrant articles for voters to decide upon involve expansion of public sewers, issuance of general obligation bonds for the town’s grant match portion of the MDOT North Windham Moves Project, including the costs of planning, design, permitting, construction, utilities, site work, paving, landscaping, or improvements necessary in connection with the construction of that project, and issuing bonds for town debt service. <

Overcoming adversity a source of pride for WHS graduate

By Ed Pierce

Resilience isn't always about being unbreakable and sometimes it’s choosing to wake up, breathe, and put one foot in front of the other despite obstacles thrown in your way. Kendra Eubanks knows all too well what it means to be resilient but as she crosses the stage at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland on Sunday to receive her Windham High School diploma, her journey will have been worth the effort.

Kendra Eubanks has triumphed over bullying and racism to
graduate from Windham High School and is planning to
become a civil rights attorney following college. She
helped create the Black Student Union at WHS and at the 
age of 17 gave a TEDx Talk about dealing with adversity.
PHOTO  BY ED PIERCE
   

As a biracial child, Kendra was bullied and tormented at a middle school in Portland because of her ethnicity.

“As a biracial person from white and black backgrounds, I wasn’t black enough for the black students,” she said. “Their resentment grew into intimidation, and the harassment became so severe that school administrators asked me to eat lunch in the teachers’ lounge for my safety, away from my peers in the cafeteria.”

The bullying continued to worsen at school until one day she was summoned to the principal’s office and told to bring all her belongings. The principal told her and her parents that the school could no longer protect her, and they recommended that she attend another school.

Fearing for her safety, her parents uprooted Kendra from her school and the only community she had known and enrolled her in school in Windham where she didn’t know anyone and was one of only a handful of black students in the school district.”

“I had to meet new people, new teachers, new classes; it was the hardest thing, but I made it through,” Kendra said. “My parents and sisters Shayla and Kiera helped me by supporting me through all my challenges. Being able to talk to them about everything really helped me through some stressful moments.”

At first, it was challenging for her in Windham because of a lack of diversity among students.

“I wasn’t white enough for the white community,” she said. But unlike her previous school experience, she found support from WHS teachers, administrators and a growing sense of belonging among other students of color.

As a freshman at Windham High School, Kendra met another black student, Afomiya Timerga, and together they created the school’s Black Student Union, a group dedicated to educating others, sharing experiences, fostering inclusivity and bringing the school together.

“BSU is not just for black people,” Kendra said., “It’s about making everyone feel connected, being kind and supporting one another. We want to show that diversity is a positive thing and what we can do better when we all work together.”

Being involved with the group opened a lot of doors for Kendra and established invaluable connections for her. It also inspired her to want to go to law school and become a human rights lawyer after college.

“My role models are Michelle Obama, because of how confident and passionate she is; she is just an amazing soul,” Kendra said. “Then both my parents, Amy Edgecomb and Dajuan Eubanks. They are both so hard working and care about their jobs and balance their life out while having kids and a family.”

Windham High School administrators and teachers have marveled at how far Kendra has come and her potential in life.

Despite being only 17 at the time, last November Kendra was invited to give a TEDx Talk at the University of New England’s Portland campus about overcoming adversity, embracing resilience, and discovering the strength that comes from self-advocacy and community. Her message was she doesn’t want people to feel bad for her but to see how she overcame her challenges and how much good came out of everything. 

“It’s been incredible to watch Kendra grow as a leader,” said WHS Assistant Principal Philip Rossetti. “She’s been a tireless advocate for her classmates. Her willingness to educate peers and staff on equity issues has led to a lasting change in our culture and climate. She has left a positive impact on WHS.”

This fall Kendra will be attending the University of Maine, where she will be studying Political Science before heading into pre-law studies.

She credits WHS teachers Tianna Burton and Jen Dumont for helping her to start the Black Student Union at Windham High School and guiding her along the way into more of a leadership role among students.

“I am very passionate and care about people and my dreams and aspirations,” Kendra said. “Graduating from high school I have made my little self very proud because the little me who got bullied did not think she was going to make it to graduation, but I did, and I’m so proud of myself.” <

MSSPA dedicates new intake barn in Windham

By Ed Pierce

Abused and neglected horses now have a “Safe Place to Land” to heal and recover as the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals has officially opened and dedicated a new 2,400-square-foot intake and quarantine barn on its farm in Windham.

Guests tour the new 'McCulloch Family Barn' during a 
dedication for the new equine intake barn and facility at
the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals
in Windham on Sunday, May 31.
PHOTO BY RICHARD SAWYER

MSSPA Advancement Director Peg Keyser said as the number of horses arriving at MSSPA has surged in recent years with many coming from cases of severe neglect, abuse, or with significant medical challenges, the urgency for a dedicated space where incoming horses can receive care they desperately need continues to grow.

She said the new intake and quarantine barn is designed to offer every horse a safe and supportive beginning to their journey of healing.

“The horses coming into this new barn are in quarantine and as you can imagine, many horses come to us with challenging health concerns, and often with no medical records or medical history,” Keyser said. “Many have not had much,if any, vet care. All horses are quarantined for 28 days while they receive an intake exam, do necessary bloodwork, receive vaccines, and begin their journey to rehabilitation.”

A horse will not be integrated into MSSPA’s resident herd until staff there have a thorough understanding of its health challenges and have begun the process of re-feeding, caring for, and returning the horse to optimum health.

“Even after quarantining for 28 days, some horses will stay in the McCulloch Family Barn if they have medical challenges that keep them from joining the resident herd,” Keyser said. “Some need more time simply to get strong and gain weight.”

A $1.5 million fundraising campaign was created last spring to build the new intake barn and facility under the leadership of Kathy Woodbrey, MSSPA’s Executive Director and it immediately got a huge boost when MSSPA received a matching gift of $500,000 from the McCullouch Family of Southern Maine who were extended the opportunity to name the new barn as the “McCulloch Family Barn.”

Dave McCulloch and other members of his family were on hand Sunday, May 31 as the new barn and intake facility was dedicated. During that event, MSSPA staff, volunteers and community supporters got a chance to tour the barn and explore what it has to offer.

The barn and its paddocks and adjacent pastures sit on seven acres at the farm. It has eight stalls, with two stalls each opening into one of four corner paddocks. Each corner paddock also has two run-in enclosures – three sided, covered open enclosures, so that while horses are out in a paddock, they have a place to go into to get out of the elements, sun, rain, and snow.

“Many of the horses that come to us have lived outside 24/7, so unless they are critically compromised or ill, they do well outside with a run-in shed for protection around-the-clock,” Keyser said. “This barn gives us amazing flexibility to accommodate horses in all stages of health and to also receive larger groups of horses. Now we can do that safely and efficiently.”

She said that the fencing was designed and installed so there is no nose-to-nose contact between paddocks.

“We even re-did much of the pasture fencing so that those large pastures also feature no nose-to-nose contact,” Keyser said. “That entire corner of the farm gives us many options to receive small and large herds of horses in varying stages of health.”

According to Keyser, the MSSPA’s goal for each horse is rehabilitation and a new home, but if no suitable adoption is found, horses may live out their natural lives at the organization’s farm.

During the dedication ceremony, Keyser said MSSPA has teamed up with the Safe Voices Domestic Violence Program of Lewiston to create a “Safe Shelter” program to offer respite care to the horses of domestic violence survivors who need to house their horse somewhere while they flee an abusive situation.

“We are very proud of this program, and we have already welcomed one horse whose owner was able to leave her abusive situation and work to re-establish a new residency,” Keyser said. “That horse left the farm last week to re-join his mom. Those incoming Safe Shelter horses will also be housed at the McCulloch Family Barn.” 

Along with the Safe Voices program, MSSPA teamed with RedRover and Greater Good Charities for grants to secure funding and support of the “Safe Shelter” program.

For 154 years, the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals (MSSPA) has been a sanctuary for Maine’s most vulnerable horses including those rescued from abuse, neglect, and heartbreaking circumstances. Its mission is to provide refuge, rehabilitation, and placement of seized equines. MSSPA does not charge for its shelter services and seeks no reimbursement from any public source. Horses cared for by the MSSPA come from Maine law enforcement officials and most of them have been abused or neglected.

The new intake barn was funded thanks to 269 donations and gifts, Woodbrey said.

J.M. Brown was the contractor, sitework was done by Shaw Brothers Construction and fencing completed by Main Line Fence. The site plan was done by Andy Johnston at Atlantic Resource Consulting, and the Owners Representative was Blaine Buck at Cordjia Capital Investments. <

First-ever ‘Eagle Plunge’ calls attention to school Unified sports and Special Olympics Maine

By Matt Pascarella

It was perfect weather for what will hopefully become an annual event as Windham High School held its first-ever “Eagle Plunge” on Wednesday, May 20.

Windham High junior Bailey Ward takes the 'Eagle Plunge'
at Windham High School on Wednesday, May 20. The 
'Eagle Plunge' is a fundraiser for Windham High's Unified
sports programs, the Best Buddies program and for
Special Olympics Maine. PHOTO BY GARY HARRIMAN 

The purpose of the event was to raise awareness and funds for Windham’s Unified sports programs, their Best Buddies program and Special Olympics Maine. The event was an enormous success and raised more than $2,000 for WHS Unified teams and Special Olympics Maine. Members of Windham’s Police Department, the WHS Student Council, Unified sports teams, the Best Buddies program and student volunteers all worked together to stage the event.

“Sergeant Jim Cook from the Windham Police Department approached me back in the fall with an idea he had seen at a conference of high schools and police departments hosting a polar plunge to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics and Unified Teams,” said Windham assistant principal Vanessa Michaud. “We decided to call it an Eagle Plunge to make it specific to Windham High School. This event was the first plunge done with a mobile pool.”

Windham High became the first school in the state to hold a plunge fundraiser on school grounds.

Planning for the event officially started back in January. Sergeant Cook and Jessica Talbot of the Windham Police Department, WHS Special Education teacher Connor McNeill, WHS School Resource Officer Justin Hudnor, and Michaud, who is a co-advisor for WHS Student Council, all worked to plan the event.

Once they had the approval of RSU 14 and the Windham Police Department after sharing the initial proposal, they shared information with Student Council members, Unified sports teams and the Best Buddies group. Student support was overwhelmingly positive.

“I wanted to get involved with a school’s Unified teams/program because I like creating an environment where everyone feels included and supported,” said senior and Best Buddies member Belle Pinto. “I think it’s important for students with special needs to have the same opportunities to make friends, be part of a team, and enjoy school activities. I think this was a very successful event because it helped to spread awareness to everyone who came out to watch. It helped us fundraise money to help our school’s Special Olympics program and going to worldwide Special Olympics program. It was a fun way for the kids to do something fun and get out and make tons of new friends. It was so fun for everyone there as well, the music and everything made it so amazing. I really do hope that they keep going with this after this year.”

Maine Special Olympics Special Events Coordinator CC Pelletier helped organize the fundraising site and facilitate the event.

Members of the Windham Fire Department were also on hand for support and to help fill the pool for plungers.

“The Eagle Plunge is a positive, community‑building event that brings people together for a meaningful cause, raising funds and awareness for programs that strengthen communities and promote inclusivity,” said Cook. “When officers participate, they build genuine connections with the community, which is essential to creating a safe and welcoming place to live, work and play.”

According to McNeill, the money raised will go to support program costs and needs for Unified sports and Best Buddies. Specific examples include purchasing an adaptive hoop for basketball or portable scoreboard for their bocce team along with team gear. Having fundraising events allows them to become more self-sustaining and provides opportunities for them to further what they can do in Unified Sports and Best Buddies.

The “Eagle Plunge” was a chance to bring visibility to the impact that these programs have on the participating individuals.

Michaud said these events create opportunities for students to build relationships outside of their usual social groups, learn from one another’s experiences, and develop empathy and respect for differences.

“Seeing the students interact with one another and rally around their fellow classmates who benefit from Best Buddies, Unified Teams, and Special Olympics was truly inspiring,” said Cook. “When that kind of support and unity happens, the entire community benefits.”

He said that when students feel seen, heard and included they are more likely to engage positively in school, build confidence, and contribute meaningfully to the community. WHS reinforces the message that that every student matters and that our differences strengthen our school community while helping students develop important life skills such as teamwork, communication, leadership, and compassion.

“This event was great because we had beautiful weather, great fundraising, and all the kids and spectators had a blast,” said McNeill. “However, more importantly I think it highlights what great people we have in the communities of Raymond and Windham. Between the police department, fire department, and the students and staff at RSU 14, this is a community that loves to support each other and celebrate what makes our towns great. I think a major factor in the success of Unified Sports, Best Buddies, and Special Olympics is making the greater community aware of how valuable and important these programs are.” <