BETHEL – David Murphy agrees with SAD 43.

The SAD 44 superintendent said Tuesday afternoon that his district will send a letter of intent to the Maine Department of Education seeking to partner with SAD 43 in Rumford, SAD 21 in Dixfield, Union 37 in Rangeley and the unaffiliated towns of Upton, Gilead and Hanover.

“This is not necessarily nailed down to anything, and it gives us wiggle room,” he said.

The state has mandated that virtually all school districts submit a letter of intent for possible administrative consolidation by Aug. 31. As regional planning committees begin meeting, the initial proposed administrative partnerships may change.

Murphy said the three potential partners were chosen because of the years of close work he has with SAD 43 and SAD 21, and Union 37’s contiguous location. At a Monday meeting of SAD 43, the board agreed with SAD 44’s choice. Last week, SAD 21 agreed to go with SAD 43, SAD 44, Union 37, and SAD 39.

Murphy said the three major districts have been working collaboratively for several years.

The state’s plan is similar to what SAD 44, SAD 43 and SAD 21 have been doing for several years, said Murphy.

He said the three districts already bid for oil together, and the most recent insurance bid combined the three as well. Also, SAD 43 and SAD 21 had shared a social worker, and SAD 44 shares SAD 43’s special education director and nutrition service director.

He said he doubts if a vote will be called in January to approve whichever configuration the regional planning committee comes up with. It will most likely be held in June 2008.

For now, the superintendents and board chairman of the four districts planned to meet again Tuesday night, Aug. 28, to continue discussions. Murphy said he doubted if SAD 39 in Buckfield will sit at the same table again.

He said he had already met with managers of some of the five towns in his district to discuss the administrative consolidation matter, and the SAD 44 board is expected to call a special meeting within the next two weeks to invite those towns’ selectmen to continue the discussion.

The letter of intent must be filed by Friday. The state is mandating implementation of the new regional school districts by July 2009.