In the public eye: Exceptional WMS STEM teacher inspires young minds

Editor’s Note: This is another in an ongoing series of Windham and Raymond town employee profiles.

By Ed Pierce

English theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking got it right when he said that behind every exceptional person there is an exceptional teacher. Windham Middle School’s Jason Lanoie is a great example of what Hawking was talking about.

Jason Lanoie teaches Seventh Grade Science, Engineering,
Technology and Math (STEM) on the Sebago Team at
WMS and is now in his 19th year of working at 
the school. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Lanoie teaches Seventh Grade Science, Engineering, Technology and Math (STEM) classes on the Sebago Team at WMS and is now in his 19th year of working at the school.

“Many times, when I tell people I teach STEM, they always ask, ‘What is that?’ and I always start off by telling them it’s technology,” Lanoie said. “I also tell them we do 3D printing, we make solar cars, we do laser engraving and so much more, but I always include woodworking. It’s still an important part of STEM, and in the earlier days of technology education in school, it was called Shop.”

He sees his students every day for about 50 minutes but at the beginning of the new semester, Lanoie will switch to the other seventh grade team, O’Hana.

“I get to see a different side of students, those who may not love school and struggle with classes like math or English and Language Arts, but love the hands-on projects in STEM,” Lanoie said. “I get to see the creative side of my students. I’m able to incorporate math and science skills in an alternative form.”

Growing up in Gorham, Lanoie graduated from Gorham High School in 1999. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Technology Education from the University of Southern Maine and then obtained a master’s degree in educational technology from Southern New Hampshire University.

“In late December of 2004 I got a phone call from Randy Perkins who at the time was the other STEM teacher at Windham Middle School,” Lanoie said. “He knew I was about to graduate from USM, and they were looking for a long-term substitute. I started in January 2005 and have been here ever since.”

Besides teaching, Lanoie currently serves as part of the WMS leadership team that is working on getting ready for the new middle school. He also has numerous positions, including vice president of the teacher’s association and is the head coach of the WMS Girls’ Indoor and Outdoor track teams.

According to Lanoie, his most memorable moment at the school is when he wrote his first grant with the Perloff foundation.

“Dave and Sandy Perloff purchased my first 3D printer back in 2012. Since then, I have received thousands of dollars in equipment from their foundation and it has changed the way I am able to teach,” Lanoie said. “We have 10 3D printers and laser engravers and Lego kits all from the Perloffs. We are able to do things I never thought possible when I first started teaching here almost 20 years ago. Another memorable moment was when I started the Guitar builders club last year. In the first year of the club, I had six students build a working guitar that they get to keep. This year the club has grown to 12 students and has been funded with a grant from the town council.”

Following in his father’s footsteps as a teacher, Lanoie says he truly feels his family is proud of the work he is doing.

“My father taught Industrial Technology and computers in Cape Elizabeth,” he said. “My wife Ashley is my biggest support. She also is a teacher, and we often help each other with our struggles, and if we just need another set of professional eyes for curriculum or lesson plans. I also like to try out some of the projects like my Rube Goldberg machines with my son and daughter.”

Lanoie said the people he works with at WMS are like a second family.

“We are all here to support each other. I remember when I was new to the building, and I needed the support from the veteran staff,” Lanoie said. “Teachers like Lee Allen and Charlie Haddock helped make me the educator I am today. Now that I have been at Windham Middle School for a number of years, I get to be that support for the next generation of teachers. We try to show new staff that at this school we will do whatever we can to support you. By showing new educators that we have their backs, we hope that it will continue long after the current teachers retire. It is really what keeps all of us at WMS going some days.” <

Maine Marathon announces additional donation to assist Riding To The Top

Bob Dunfey, the Volunteer Race Director for The Maine Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay, has announced that Riding To The Top (RTT) of Windham will be receiving an additional donation in addition to the $10,500 previously awarded to RTT as a 2024 beneficiary.

Gorham Savings Bak President and CEO Steve deCastro, left,
joins Andrea Connor of the Maine Marathon, center, in
presenting an additional donation of $9,500 to Riding To
The Top Development Director Kelly Johnson for use in
programs offered by the therapeutic riding center
in Windham. SUBMITTED PHOTO 

Dunfey said RTT has also been awarded an additional $9,500 after final race expenses were tabulated.

“Christmas came early this year. We were so honored to be named a beneficiary of this year’s Maine Marathon,” says Sarah Bronson, RTT’s Executive Director. “And then to receive news this month that the donation amount was increased has been an unexpected and overwhelming gift. We are so grateful to Gorham Savings Bank and to the many volunteers who work tirelessly to make the marathon possible.”

Bronson said as an organization that operates with a small paid staff and a large corps of volunteer, RTT is simply in awe of the all-volunteer effort of the Maine Marathon.

“Funds from the Maine Marathon will help the clients, horses and programs of RTT as we look forward to the start of the new year,” she said.

Riding To The Top is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the health and well-being of children and adults with disabilities through equine-assisted services, including therapeutic riding, therapeutic carriage driving, equine-assisted learning, and hippotherapy.

Based in Windham, the RTT team includes certified instructors, specially trained volunteers, and a herd of exceptional horses. Clients range in age from 3 to 90-plus and are referred by doctors, therapists, social workers, teachers, family members, and friends.

The Maine Marathon races are organized by the Maine Track Club. It is a volunteer driven, nonprofit event with proceeds going to local Maine charities. Since 1997, the Maine Marathon has raised almost $8 million to charity. Over 50 volunteer race coordinators plan the event during the year and about 900 volunteers deliver the event on race weekend.

“By pulling together funds from race registrations, individual donations and sponsors, we are able to have a real impact in the community,” Dunfey said. “The overriding mission of the Maine Marathon is to hold a quality event that runners and spectators will appreciate and support while raising funds for local Maine charities.”

This year’s 2024 Maine Marathon was held on Sunday, Oct. 6 in Portland.

For further details about Riding To The Top, visit https://www.ridingtothetop.org/ <

New Paid Family and Medical Leave Employer Portal to launch Jan. 6

AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Labor has announced that the new Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Portal, the online system for employers to register their business information, designate a payroll processor, file quarterly wage reports, and remit quarterly premium contributions, will be launching on Jan. 6.

Starting Jan. 1, 2025, any employer with at least one Maine-based employee must begin payroll withholdings for their employees. Employers with 15 or more employees will contribute 1 percent of wages and may deduct up to half of the contribution from the employees' wages. Employers with less than 15 employees will contribute 0.5 percent of wages and may deduct the entire amount from the employees' wages

All employers must register on the portal to begin wage reporting in April 2025. This portal will allow employers to register their business information with the Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave Program, file quarterly wage reports and remit contributions, and to apply for private plan substitutions when eligible.

The system will also provide the opportunity for self-employed individuals and tribal governments to opt into coverage from the Paid Family and Medical Leave program.

Employers will begin their first quarterly wage reporting and premium payments starting April 1, 2025, and they are due by April 30, 2025.

Stay up to date by signing up for the PFML Get Notified List and learn more in our FAQ, employer resources, recorded demonstrations, and step by step guides on our website: https://www.maine.gov/paidleave/

The Department partnered with FAST Enterprises - https://www.fastenterprises.com/ to build the Maine Paid Family and Medical Leave Program's online contributions portal.

FAST Enterprises has previously worked with Maine Revenue Services - https://www.maine.gov/revenue/ to create the Maine Tax Portal - https://revenue.maine.gov/.

Benefits are scheduled to begin May 1, 2026. <

PWD completes lead inventory and certifies no lead service lines in system

The Portland Water District (PWD) has announced the successful completion of its comprehensive lead inventory, confirming that there are no lead mains or service lines within its water system.

This significant achievement met the October deadline set by the new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule, which mandates Public Water Systems to thoroughly document the materials of both public and privately owned service lines.

Over the past 18 months, PWD has diligently reviewed its water service records and conducted physical inspections, when necessary, of over 56,000 privately owned service lines. This exhaustive process was undertaken to ensure the health and safety of the community by identifying and replacing any lead or unsafe service lines.

During the inventory, PWD discovered and promptly replaced one lead service line and three galvanized service lines, which were removed because they can be a source of lead if they were ever downstream of lead pipes.

"We are proud to report the completion of our lead inventory ahead of the EPA’s deadline," said Chris Crovo, Acting General Manager for the Portland Water District. "This achievement reflects our ongoing dedication to water quality and public health." The Portland Water District’s efforts align with its mission to protect public health and the environment through delivering high-quality water services.

Portland Water District maintains a 1,000-mile network of water mains ranging from 60 inches to 2 inches, pump stations, and reservoirs that bring water from Sebago Lake to home and businesses in Maine. Large mains for transmission extend from PWD’s treatment facility near Standish to Westbrook and Portland.

The district operates four wastewater treatment plants, providing treatment and collection services to customers in Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, Gorham, Portland, Westbrook, and Windham.

The water district keeps about 25 million gallons of water in storage to help maintain proper pressure and allow for a water reserve in case of an emergency, like a fire or a flood. It serves about 200,000 people across 11 communities and because of that, PWD must ensure that Sebago Lake water quality is of utmost importance.

Sebago Lake itself is more than 300 feet in depth and contains nearly 1 trillion gallons of water which is considered of excellent quality. The source of water in Sebago Lake originates in the Sebago Lake Watershed, which is more than 50 miles long, stretching from Bethel to Standish and includes parts of 24 towns including the towns of Windham and Raymond.

The excellent water quality of the Sebago Lake Watershed is attributed to surrounding forest lands that act as a natural filter for the watershed.

The recent EPA rule is part of a nationwide effort to eliminate lead contamination in drinking water, a move that the Portland Water District fully supports and has proactively addressed with its latest inventory. PWD reviewed paper and digital records going back more than a century and visually inspected thousands of services in the field. This inventory and replacement work underscores PWD’s commitment to providing safe, clean drinking water for its customers. <

Raymond Comprehensive Plan meeting creates debate about sidewalk additions

By Kendra Raymond

The Raymond Comprehensive Plan draft was recently published for review and a public town hearing was held on Dec. 4 at the regular Comprehensive Plan Committee’s meeting. Committee members presented the current draft plan, shared updates, and heard feedback from residents.

Public feedback regarding
Raymond's new Comprehensive
Plan proposal has asked that more
road safety and road improvement
measures be included in the Raymond
Cape area of the town. The
Comprehensive Plan Committee
has extended the deadline to 
submit public comments about 
the plan to Dec. 31.
PHOTO BY KENDRA RAYMOND 

The public commentary about the plan was open from Oct. 11 to Dec. 4, where suggestions and input could be recorded and shared with the committee. CPC co-chair Peter Leavitt says that there was a unanimous vote at the meeting to extend the public comment period on the draft plan to Dec. 31, 2024.

Raymond’s new Comprehensive Plan’s Priority Goals and Actions includes five sections: Build a resilient Raymond, protect Raymond’s natural and water resources, invest in road and traffic improvements, prioritize walking and biking around Raymond, and strengthen Raymond’s sense of community.

The fourth item, “Prioritize walking and biking around Raymond: Build a trail or sidewalk that spans the length of Raymond Cape Road,” brought forth some lively discussion during the CPC committee’s Dec. 4 meeting.

Leavitt explained that the priority and verbiage around pedestrian accessibility was changed following the meeting,

“Based on both online and in person public comments the CPC decided to change the priority status involving Raymond Cape Road for the construction of walking/bike paths to include the village areas,” he said. “There was no public opposition to the draft plan's focus on promoting sidewalk and walking paths throughout Raymond in order to increase connectivity and/or improve roadway safety.”

Kelly Rocheleau is a Cape resident and attended the meeting.

“I would like to hear what other people are feeling. We are concerned about safety on the road for drivers and pedestrians,” she said. “I took away that the Cape improvements were low priority. It seemed like the sidewalks were being shot down.”

A local social media page discussion initiated some debate as well. Raymond resident Laura Abbott posted, “It’s insane. Is someone going to have to die for them to make it a priority? It’s a safety issue – at minimum.”

Kelly Rocheleau replied to the post, “The Comprehensive Plan is more about connectivity and bringing the town together. The paths make more sense to have them near the school, town office, Raymond village, and route 302. After hearing more, I understand that is the priority and that seems to benefit more of the town. To me, Cape Road is about safety. Something needs to be done before there is another fatal accident.”

Rocheleau said that she recalls a devastating fatality on the Cape in 2018.

“(Javiera Araya Arriagada) was my sister Karen’s tenant,” she said. The early morning collision occurred when Arriagada was driving north on the Cape. Her vehicle drifted off the pavement edge, and after over-correcting, Arriagada’s vehicle collided with a Ford F-550 hauling a trailer driven by Franklin Everett. She died at the scene. Cape resident Melissa Savage came upon the accident as it occurred. She said that the victim was responsive, but all Savage was able to do was make her comfortable and offer soothing words.”

The Comprehensive Plan draft section language under the heading Prioritize Safe Walking & Biking around Raymond says:

“Many Raymond residents are active people who love to spend time outdoors and would readily do less driving if it was safer and easier to walk or bike. Route 302 has a limited sidewalk network that lacks connectivity to other parts of town and nearby parks and public places. Routes 85 and 121 have a more rural setting and lack sidewalks or bike lanes. Raymond’s local roads do not have adequate road shoulders for pedestrians. Improving the ability to bike and walk around Raymond will be a big quality of life improvement for residents - and will help reduce traffic congestion. Policy: Make it easier to walk and bike around Raymond. • Build a trail or sidewalk that spans the length of Raymond Cape Road. • Develop a capital plan to prioritize and fund sidewalk construction and connections along the busiest parts of Route 302 and Route 85 in Raymond, and to widen or pave road shoulders along other public roads. • Amend ordinances to require sidewalks when new construction is built on Route 302, Route 85, and anywhere pedestrian activity is anticipated. • Partner with Maine DOT to add bike infrastructure like bike lanes or shoulders to Route 302, Route 85, and Route 121. • Create a plan to create pedestrian connections through sidewalks and trails in East Raymond Village. • Review and update standards for sidewalk construction in the Subdivision Ordinance to promote walkable new development. Policy: Increase off-road trails for recreation and bicycle/pedestrian travel through town. • Work with regional partners to connect to the Sebago to the Sea trail. • Partner with local snowmobile and ATV groups to create pedestrian and bike access to existing trails. • Build a trail connection between Sheri Gagnon Park, Raymond Village, and Route 302. • Increase trail, sidewalk, and bike lane connections to water access points and open spaces. Policy: Provide alternatives to driving. • Work with RTP, town staff and boards, and Raymond residents to bring back the Lakes Region Bus. • Explore partnering with regional towns for a vanpool service for seniors for daily needs and recreation.”

The CPC draft offered the following public comments: “Pretty much every road feels unsafe to walk or ride a bike on, except for the private, slow speed lakeside roads.”, “Cape Road needs a jogging/bike path! There are a lot of pedestrians and bicycles using that road safely. It is scenic with rolling hills and would be perfect for a path that has benches and lighting, from the ferry up to Hawthorne.”, “I love the idea of creating more sidewalks.”

“We deserve a better road,” said Rocheleau.

So, what’s next and how can residents have their voices heard? Leavitt said that once the Comp Plan is voted in, the townspeople will decide whether to fund the improvements.

“Implementation of the recommendations contained in the Comprehensive Plan begins once the residents approve the plan (on the) June 2025 town warrant and the Select board appoints the Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee. Ultimately the decision on funding any of the plan recommendations resides with the voters,” Leavitt said.

The recent CPC meeting was the last of its kind in the Comp Plan process. The CPC authorized the co-chairs Peter Leavitt and Kaela Gonzalez to make any additional edits to the plan that might be required by the Raymond Select Board or the state.

The Comprehensive Plan draft can be reviewed here: https://compplan.raymondmaine.org/index.php/review-the-plan/

Scroll to the bottom of the page to submit your feedback on the draft plan by the Dec. 31, 2024 deadline. <

In the public eye: WMS teacher dedicated to students and community

Editor’s Note: This is another in an ongoing series of Windham and Raymond town employee profiles.

By Ed Pierce

It’s said that a great teacher is more than just someone who gives out answers to tests but is understanding of the needs and challenges of students and gives them the tools they need to succeed in life. Windham Middle School’s Mandy Lavallee can certainly be called one of those dedicated educators.

Mandy Lavallee teaches English and
Language Arts at Windham Middle School
and she also serves as the school's Student
Council Advisor. She's part of the
Leadership Team for WMS and has spent 
more than 20 years working in the field
of education. SUBMITTED PHOTO    

Lavallee teaches English and Language Arts at WMS and she serves as the school’s Student Council Advisor. She’s part of the Leadership Team for WMS and a member of the school’s Curriculum Committee for vocabulary work, the Community and Culture Committee and is the EF Tour Advisor.

“For eighth grade English and Language Arts, we are finishing up our World War II book studies unit,” Lavallee said. “Not only are we reading and analyzing, but we are crafting and writing. Students will be expected to write a literary essay as their final assessment.”

As WMS Student Council Advisor, Lavallee’s helped connect students to their community.

“So far this year we have collected food for the Windham Food Pantry, adopted a few families for Christmas and are currently supporting administration during our Holiday Assembly,” she said. “Within the next few weeks, we will be working on screen printing our own Windham shirts. Student Council has partnered with STEM to help bring this amazing opportunity to our students and staff.”

According to Lavallee, working on the WMS Leadership Team has been eye opening.

“It's important work and I'm proud to say, I've had the honor of working side by side with amazing staff from both middle schools,” she said.

Now in her second year of teaching at Windham Middle School, she has spent the past 20 years in the field of education.

“In 2005 I started as an educational technician at Windham Middle School. I worked with students who were in the care of the Department of Human Services and then the Functional Life Skills Program,” Lavallee said. “While I've worked in other districts teaching social studies and ELA, my favorite place to call home is WMS. While I do love curriculum work, making connections with my students and their families is what I enjoy the most. I truly enjoy my students and can't imagine doing anything different. Once my student, always my student.”

Originally from the Greater Portland area, she attended the University of New England where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history with a concentration in education. She later went back to UNE and obtained a teaching certificate and is certified to teach in both Kindergarten to Grade 8 and Grades 7 to 12. She did her student teaching at The REAL school on Mackworth Island. Lavallee has also worked as an educational technician, taught Social Studies for grades 9 to 12, been a Kindergarten to Grade 8 teacher and taught Language Arts for students in Grades 7 and 8.

“One of the most memorable moments I've had at WMS took place in October. We had just finished our memoirs and were celebrating our writing,” Lavallee said. “I decorated the classroom to look like a cafe. We had hot chocolate, tea and popcorn. The students were enthusiastic and engaged as we shared our pieces. I saw many smiles and heard several giggles. Their pieces were heartfelt and honored the people in their lives. It was a great day. When they asked if we could do it again, I knew our celebration of writing was a success.”

She says the most challenging aspect of her work is dealing with all the policies and procedures regarding schools.

“These can sometimes hinder activities designed to enhance curriculum or not get the support my kids need in what I believe to be a quick enough time frame,” she said. “Patience is something that I am working on.”

Last spring, Lavallee partnered with EF Tours in an effort to bring travel opportunities to RSU 14 middle schoolers.

“In April 2025 we will be traveling to Spain. This trip is designed specifically for middle school students,” she said. “We will be visiting an olive oil farm, making tiles, learning Flamenco dancing and more. I am already working on our next adventure which will be Italy.”

Her family is proud of her work and are her biggest cheerleaders.

“My own children love that I teach in their school district. It's a great thing when you can attend your own children's events and see your school kids succeed outside the classroom,” she said. “The most important thing I have learned while working for WMS is that you can do anything with enough heart and determination.” <

RSU 14 Backpack Program addresses food insecurity among students

By Ed Pierce

Launched during the 2011-2012 school year to assist school children in RSU 14 to overcome food insecurity so they can grow up healthy, do their best work in school, and become successful adults, the Windham/Raymond Backpack Program has become a lifeline for students when school is not in session.

Shaw Dwight of Windham's Paul's Boutique was honored
earlier this year for donating to the RSU 14 Backpack
Program which feeds students in need when school is not
in session. From left are RSU 14 Backpack Program
volunteer Marge Govoni, Shaw Dwight, and RSU 14
Kitchen Manager Ryan Roderick. SUBMITTED PHOTO   

Despite the Maine Legislature approving “School Meals For All” legislation in 2021 where all students in Maine are given access to school meals, some families of RSU 14 students continue to be faced with issues of feeding children on weekends and over vacations when school is not open.

That’s where the Windham/Raymond Backpack Program comes in. It provides food to supplement children in need over weekends and school breaks during the school year. Each “Backpack” contains breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, as well as snacks and they are discreetly distributed to the students by teachers or staff at each RSU 14 school and are packed every Tuesday by a team of volunteers at Windham Middle School.

Backpack Program volunteer Marge Govoni of Windham said that ongoing research indicates that children who grow up in food insecure households sometimes trail their peers in terms of cognitive, emotional, and physical development and this RSU 14 program was created to help students overcome those challenges.

She said that when the RSU 14 Backpack Program started, it provided meals for about 50 students but has since increased to more than 120 students participating from both Windham and Raymond schools.

“The increase in participation paired with rising food costs has made it more important than ever that we keep this program open and available to as many children as we can,” Govoni said.

Data formulated by the National Health Interview Study shows a direct correlation between household food insecurity and significantly worsening general health in American children, including more acute and chronic health problems and increased emergency room hospital visits.

The Windham/Raymond Backpack Program only accepts monetary donations to ensure the nutritional items and menu are similarly based and meet the needs of the child, Govoni said.

“In order to continue to serve up to 120 children each weekend during the school year, we need more members of the community to support our program,” she said. “We are reaching out to local businesses asking for additional sponsors to this program.”

For residents who are considering donating to the RSU 14 Backpack Program, Govoni said that donation benchmarks are one bag for one child at $10, and one child for the school year at about $300.

“Of course, any amount is helpful, and 100 percent of the donations go toward buying food and supplies with no administrative cost or fees applied,” she said. “Using this program to give students food for the weekend ensures that come Monday morning when they return to school, they will not be hungry and ready to learn. I am passionate about this program and making sure that students have access to food over the weekend and it is run totally on donations and the work of some wonderful and caring volunteers.”

Ryan Roderick, RSU 14 Kitchen Manager, said that the Backpack Program is invaluable.

“It is not uncommon to think that because school meals are free that these kids should already have everything they need. The unfortunate truth is that even though breakfasts and lunches are available to all students, there are still hundreds of children who leave school on Friday afternoon and have no certainty that they will be fed a complete meal until Monday morning when they return to school,” Roderick said. “If that is the case, you can bet those students are going to be the ones struggling to stay focused, stay awake and to be the best version of themselves when they are in attendance. The backpack program helps those children sustain over the weekend, to feel a sense of comfort and normalcy and to be confident knowing they will not have to feel hungry, tired, or irritable by the time they get back to school. Every child deserves to feel happy and energized and to be given the best possible chance to succeed and the Backpack Program is our way to ensure that chance is given.”

Govoni said making a donation to the program can help transform the lives of the RSU 14 students whose lives can be made a little easier with a nutritional meal that is not always available to them.

“We cannot make this program work without the help of our very generous businesses, organizations and residents of Windham and Raymond,” she said. “We are very grateful and cannot thank those who have contributed monetary donations or volunteer their time to help make this program successful.”

In this week's edition of The Windham Eagle, local businesses participated in an advertising holiday greeting fundraiser with a portion of the proceeds benefit the RSU 14 Backpack Program. Thanks to the 95 participants, the newspaper was able to raise over $1,100 for the RSU 14 Backpack Program.  

To make a donation helping ensure that the food insecure children of the Windham and Raymond communities are nourished and well fed, mail a check or money order to: School Nutrition Program, Attn: Ryan Roderick, 228 Windham Center Road Windham, ME 04062 Note: Backpack Program.

Online donations can also be made at https://rsu14.androgov.com/ - Select “all other student activities,” fill in your information, for a specific school, select “School Nutrition.” For *Payment Description* write “Backpack Program.”

For more details about the Windham/Raymond Backpack Program, call 207-892-1800, Ext. 2012 or send an email to rroderick@rsu14.org or mgovoni@rsu14.org <