BUCKFIELD – Discussions to have SAD 17 and SAD 39 share an administrator are officially ready to begin.

The two districts are looking to combine Oxford Hills’ assistant superintendent’s position with Nezinscot Valley’s superintendent’s job. SAD 39 Superintendent Richard Colpitts would take on the assistant superintendent’s post, and other duties would be assigned to others. This would start as a one year trial.

The SAD 39 board voted Wednesday night to begin discussions. SAD 17 voted Monday. Both votes were unanimous.

The proposal is a reaction to Gov. John Baldacci’s school district consolidation plan. Even if the plan doesn’t pass, the two districts are destined to be combined in the future, officials say.

With Colpitts already having “one foot in each district,” he and SAD 17 Superintendent Mark Eastman said this transition would be easier.

At Wednesday’s SAD 39 meeting, board members peppered Colpitts and board Chairman Colleen Bullecks with questions. Many didn’t get answers because most of the details, including a job description, haven’t been hashed out yet.

Bullecks responded: “We also have to realize that there are some things that won’t get done, and some things that other people will be doing.”

SAD 17 recently suspended its search for an assistant superintendent, a position Colpitts said he did not apply for.