OXFORD – Directors of SADs 17 and 39 have voted to allow SAD 39 Superintendent Richard Colpitts to be SAD 17’s part-time assistant superintendent for a year.

The SAD 17 Board of Directors gave the go-ahead Monday night to negotiate a one-year contract. SAD 39 directors gave their approval Wednesday night.

If negotiations are successful, Colpitts will start his new duties on July 1.

“It’s not going to be business as usual. We’re going to give it a year and see where we are,” SAD 39 Board of Directors Chairman Colleen Bullecks said.

Neither Colpitts nor Eastman were available for comment Thursday.

SADs 17 and 39 officials have been discussing moving Colpitts to the SAD 17 central office several days a week to be assistant superintendent. He will work part-time as superintendent of the 600-student district in Buckfield, Hartford and Sumner.

The plan is the result of a SAD 17 ad hoc committee recommendation in 2003 to find ways to cooperate with SAD 39 to save money. That recommendation has already resulted in a number of cost-saving measures such as joint adult education classes, heating oil purchases, bus repairs and other initiatives.

Both districts will split the cost of Colpitts’ benefits and salary, which is currently set at $81,594.