PERU - SAD 21 Superintendent Tom Ward gave selectmen a look this week at how the proposed three-district consolidation plan would affect Peru.

The chief school administrator for Peru, Canton, Dixfield and Carthage said the cost-sharing plan for SADs 21, 43 and 39 would be based 75 percent on property valuation and 25 percent on student population. And, he said, combining the three central offices into one would save an estimated $400,000.

Each of the towns making up the new consolidated system would be represented by at least one school board member, depending on population. Rumford would have three, Dixfield, Mexico and Buckfield would have two each, and Peru, Canton, Carthage, Hartford, Sumner, Byron and Roxbury would have one each, for a total of 16.

Ward said he feels good about the consolidation plan, and the cost-sharing arrangement could be a model for the state.

The superintendent also talked about the proposed budget of $11,396,620 for 2008-2009 and said budget developers are looking at cutting $750,000 from it.

Among the cuts projected are 1.5 administrators; fewer hours for the curriculum coordinator and possibly one teacher.

Ward said administrators may put off for a year adding two sessions of half-day prekindergarten, which would include a teacher and an education technician for $76,000.

This year's budget is $10 million.

In other business before the board Monday night, the town Finance Committee recommended 43 articles for the June 10 annual town meeting warrant. Not being endorsed is an article to appropriate $2,500 for operating the Rockemeka Grange Hall.

Committee member Tim Holland questioned $1,000 for the Recreation Committee, saying when SAD 21 turns over the Peru school to the town, it will not be maintaining the ball fields and they will need more funds.

Selectmen voted to change the amount to $2,000.

An article to move the town office to the small brick building that is part of the West Peru school is one of the recommended articles. Selectman Jim Pulsifer said no one is showing interest in acquiring the school building now.