RUMFORD – People living in the Rumford and Bethel areas will have a chance Wednesday night to learn about the new state law to consolidate school systems.

The meeting at 7 p.m. in Muskie Auditorium of Mountain Valley High School is this area’s only chance to learn from the state’s Department of Education what the law means and what the possibilities may be for the three districts in the region, SAD 43 Superintendent Jim Hodgkin said.

He said Norm Higgins, an educational consultant for consolidation with the department, will provide an overview of the law, then provide a chance for questions.

The law calls for most districts to be created during the next 18 months, and to have a minimum student population of 2,500.

Representatives from SAD 43, SAD 21 based in Dixfield and SAD 44 based in Bethel will be at the informational session.

The superintendents from the three districts have been meeting for well over a year to discuss ways they can work together and share services. Whether the three will consolidate under the state’s plan is not certain.

SAD 43 has 1,581 students, and SAD 21 and SAD 44 each enroll just under 1,000.

The River Valley meeting is one of more than two dozen being held all around the state in June and July.

Hodgkin said each district must have made an “earnest” effort at identifying potential administrative partners by Aug. 31.

Residents in each district will vote on whether they want to join with identified districts by Jan. 15, 2008. If there is a “no” vote, people will have another chance to vote in June 2008. If a regionalization plan is rejected again, that district would be subject to penalties.

According the to DOE timeline, July 1, 2009, is the start date for the consolidated districts.