OXFORD – A plan to buy the services of one superintendent to help another should ultimately benefit both school districts, SAD 17 Superintendent Mark Eastman and SAD 39 Superintendent Richard Colpitts said Wednesday.

“It is an opportunity for both districts to try something a little different to see if it will reap some benefits. It could open some doors or shut some,” Colpitts said.

The plan, which is the result of a SAD 39 ad hoc committee recommendation to find ways to save money in the district’s central office, will move Colpitts to the SAD 17 central office in Oxford several days a week to fill the shoes of its vacant assistant superintendent’s position while retaining his job in Buckfield part time.

The move, yet to be approved by both school boards, would be implemented on July 1 and be considered a one-year pilot program.

Eastman said Wednesday that the primary function of the SAD 17 assistant superintendent has been to negotiate contracts with the district’s 10 bargaining units. With the loss of the assistant superintendent this school year, the duties have been parceled out to the superintendent and other administrators.

“This person’s major role has been human resource,” such as handling certification of employees, Eastman said of other job responsibilities, in addition to negotiating contracts.

“What I’m finding is the major part comes at my desk,” Eastman said. The additional duties have burdened his own performance in terms of being able to get out into the district more and other issues.

“We’re coping,” he said.

Colpitts, who was hired three years ago as full-time superintendent after years of working as school principals in SAD 39 and elsewhere, said the districts will split his benefits and $81,594 salary. The Personnel Committee has recommended a 4 percent salary increase to about $84,000 during the contract negotiations, Colpitts said.

If both boards agree to the program, SAD 17 will “buy” the services of Colpitts and the integrity of his contract with SAD 39 will remain, Eastman explained.

Colpitts said the move does put him at risk but it is a risk he is willing to take. During the pilot program, Colpitts said he will need to answer three questions to determine whether the plan to consolidate his job with SAD 17 central office staff would work in the long run.

“Is it physically positive? Do I enjoy doing it and is it a good fit?” he said.

Directors at each district are reviewing the plan this week and so far the results are positive.

“This isn’t a date. This isn’t a marriage either. It’s a courtship,” said Eastman in describing how the pilot program will work to SAD 17 directors Monday night.

While the plan seems to be a reaction to Gov. John Baldacci’s initiative to consolidate school districts, it is not.

Colpitts said an ad hoc committee recommended that central office functions be regionalized, and if that didn’t save money then district consolidation would be recommended. No specific district was named.

“I’ve been acting on the premise that the committee gave us a directive to centralize the central office functions. The irony of all this is that the report was released the same night as the governor’s plan was released,” he said.

Both superintendents say they are awaiting word from the state. A report is expected this week.

Eastman said if the state decides SAD 17 should merge with another district, the pilot program would be back on the table for review.

The districts already share in the purchase of fuel and other cost-saving measures.