OXFORD - SAD 17 directors have given the go-ahead to start discussions with SAD 39 officials about forming a single district.

In a 359-300 "weighted" vote, the board agreed with Superintendent Mark Eastman's recommendation Monday night to immediately ask Education Commissioner Susan Gendron to extend a January 2009 community vote on a merger plan to June. The weighted vote is based on the population of each town represented on the board.

If no extension is granted, directors agreed to discontinue talks with SAD 39 and let that district return to its plan to merge with SADs 21 and 43 in the Rumford and Dixfield area. A vote on that plan is set for Sept. 17, but if it fails, the SAD 17 directors will resume talks with SAD 39.

The problem, said school officials, is that SADs 17 and 39 must form a 40-plus member committee from 11 district towns and make headway in talks before Sept. 15, the deadline for SAD 39 to decide if it will be part of the SADs 21 and 43 merger plan that goes to a vote on Sept. 17.

The SAD 17 vote came after more than an hour of discussion and debate among members of both SADs 17 and 39 directors, some of whom felt the time frame to discuss the plan with SAD 39 was not realistic.

"We all acknowledge the time line is ridiculous," said SAD 39 Superintendent Rick Colpitts, who asked for SAD 17 directors to let the districts meet at the table to talk. "Even if given only a week they would still like to come to the table."

Although SAD 17 directors voted in June to give Eastman the go-ahead to organize a joint planning committee with SAD 39 to explore forming a single school system, a recent letter from the education commissioner put a damper on that plan Monday night.

In the letter dated July 15 from Gendron to Eastman, the superintendent was told that the alternative organizational structure would still require submission of a reorganization plan, which means the district must meet the requirements of the alternative organizational structure and the reorganization plan.

SAD 17 voted last year to "stand alone" rather than go through the process of reorganizing with another school district and developing a full reorganization plan. New legislation this year that allows an "alternative organizational structure" led SADs 17 and 39 to believe they might continue and expand cost-sharing efforts while meeting requirements of the state's school consolidation law.

Under the law, the alternative organizational structure would require the two districts to function as a single school system in many respects. The combined district would receive a single state subsidy check and have a common core curriculum, single budget, central office with one superintendent, combined administration for areas such as special education and transportation and adopt consistent school policies and calendars among other items.

Eastman had recommended they go forward with discussions because of the potential for continuing cost-savings, until he received Gendron's letter.

"I think they threw up too many hurdles," said SAD 17 Director Nick DiConzo, who voted not to continue merger discussion with SAD 39.

SAD 17 Chairman Ron Kugell said he opposed continuing with the discussion because of the pressure it would put on Eastman to form a 40-plus member committee in the next few weeks and begin discussions and come up with a decision by Sept. 15.

Other members argued that the two districts should at least be given the opportunity to see if an extension can be had and talks can continue.

SADs 17 and 39 have shared programs and cost-saving measures for years. They include sharing heating oil purchases, joint adult education, bus repairs and the technical school. Directors in both districts last month also approved a two-year contract extension for SAD 39 Colpitts, who serves as SAD 17's part-time assistant superintendent.