AUBURN – School Union 29’s automated recording offers phone extensions for a number of offices that soon could be gone: operations director, finance coordinator, superintendent, payroll, business manager, special education director.

The administrators serve a district with 1,720 students from Poland, Minot and Mechanic Falls.

But the recommended minimum under a new state law is 2,500 students.

That means the school union will have to consolidate its central office with another school system.

As the deadline nears for districts to tell the state who they’re merging with, Auburn is talking to Union 29, as well as to SAD 52 about merging, said Auburn Interim Superintendent Tom Morrill. SAD 52, with 2,166 students, serves the towns of Turner, Leeds and Greene.

If those districts did create one central office, it would represent about 7,374 students.

The new law aims to reduce the number of school districts from 290 to about 80. Auburn doesn’t have to merge with another system because it has 3,478 students, well over the minimum. But SAD 52 and Union 29 both fall below the minimum.

Elizabeth Bullard of Turner, chairwoman of the SAD 52 school board, said her schools are looking at Auburn because “it’s only responsible to check out our next-door neighbors and learn.”

SAD 52 wants to know more about how Auburn schools operate and their philosophies, Bullard said.

SAD 52 recently replaced its retiring superintendent, Tom Hanson, by promoting former Assistant Superintendent Darlene Burdin to superintendent. With consolidation looming, Burdin was given only a two-year contract. Likewise, Morrill last year was named acting superintendent for this year only. “It’s not clear what happens after that,” said Auburn School Committee Chairman David Das.

Auburn school officials are approaching the merger talks with open minds, Das said.

“We’re taking it very seriously and acting in good faith,” he said. “We have lots and lots of questions. It’s really a difficult process. It’s not just waving a magic wand.”

There could be academic advantages to consolidating, Das said. Combining forces could mean greater resources and more opportunities for students. With a larger district there’s a greater possibility of magnet schools and other programs.

But Das doubted merging would bring about savings. It could even cost more, he said.

When school districts merge, eventually there’ll be one labor contract for all teachers, he pointed out. Teachers who were paid less may see their pay boosted.

And with more students to serve, the new central office may need one superintendent plus one or two assistant superintendents, Das said. There could be only one business manager, but there may be a need for more assistants. “The work still has to be done,” Das said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it comes out as a wash, or more expensive.”

The spokesman for the Maine Department of Education disagreed, saying consolidation should reduce costs to taxpayers.

It is possible that a larger district needs an assistant superintendent or an assistant transportation director. “But it seems highly likely that combining two or more offices into one, you can find duplicate overhead that can be eliminated,” said David Connerty-Marin, director of communications for the Maine Department of Education.

A new central office won’t need multiple payroll directors, multiple computer systems and software. “You won’t need to be paying for heat, electricity and maintenance on several central office buildings.”

Auburn’s consolidation subcommittee, of which Das is a member, will give its recommendations to the Auburn School Committee on Aug. 22.

The deadline for school systems to file consolidation plans with the Maine Department of Education is Aug. 31.