The Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District Board of Trustees unanimously authorized the purchase of a new intercom for Boothbay Region Elementary School at its regular meeting Jan. 6.

“Several months ago, the one we'd had for many years broke,” Maintenance Supervisor Dave Benner said. “We got this one as a loaner, and now it is not working properly.”

Benner sought out bids for a new system. He received two at the time of the meeting, one from Hi-Tech Communications in Thomaston for around $11,000 and one from Canfield Systems, Inc. in Scarborough for $8,248. Benner said he felt Canfield’s bid wouldn't be beat, and due to the urgency of replacing the system, he suggested not waiting for another meeting.

“Is it really that urgent?” trustee Kevin Anthony asked.

“It's a security risk,” Superintendent Eileen King said. “We have no choice.”

“Should the school need to be evacuated there is no way to inform everyone,” BRHS Principal Dan Welch said.

“The new system will be able to play both prerecorded and live messages,” Benner said.

The trustees unanimously agreed to accept Canfield’s bid, which, according to Benner acting on information from Canfield, should be ready for installation within five business days.

Once the intercom system is replaced, Benner suggested the trustees consider replacing the entrance way cameras at BRES as well.

“Ninety-nine times out of 100, they work,” Benner said. “But once in a while when the buzzer sounds they look up and the screen is black.”

Current estimates for replacement of the cameras are $7,000.