BUCKFIELD – SAD 39 directors voted Wednesday night to write a letter of intent to the Maine Department of Education to merge with Union 29 in Poland or SAD 52 in Turner.

Union 29 shares no common boundaries with SAD 39, but SAD 17, which is one of the closest districts, has said they will not merge with SAD 39 because it would cost SAD 17 taxpayers an additional $632,254.

SAD 39 already shares a administrator with SAD 17.

Board member Lana Pratt of Sumner said she had toured the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in Paris and found it to be very compatible with the philosophy and educational standards of SAD 39.

“It’s unacceptable that everything is driven by money and not concern for our students. I find the whole thing terrible,” Pratt said.

School Committee Chairman Colleen Bullecks of Hartford said, “I really hate to let SAD 17 go because of our past relationship with them, but they have said no.”

State Department of Education facilitator Robert Connors said, “The timeline was too short for districts to do what they had to do. You haven’t had time to study the options, philosophy, programs, geographic locations and cost sharing of any other possible districts.”

State Rep. Terry Hayes of Buckfield said, “The state budget is driving this and the funding formula is causing your problem.”

SAD 52, which also borders SAD 39, has requested to stand alone as a district.

Union 29 Superintendent Dennis Duquette spoke to the school committee for two hours before the vote. He said his board voted Tuesday night to request to stand alone, even though the union has only 1,750 students.

The state requirement for a regional school district is at least 2,500.

SAD 39 has 660 students.

Duquette said Union 29 had been looking at possible districts and SAD 39 was compatible and financially possible. “I think the numbers are doable,” he said.

The union, which includes Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland, has five school committees and one central office with shared expenses.

Duquette said Poland Regional High School is nontraditional having no letter grades. Instead the students meet, partially meet or don’t meet requirements. They may continue to take the course until they do meet the requirement. He said every student must apply to college. They don’t necessarily have to go but they have to apply.

The student/teacher ratio is about 14-to-1 and there is an alternative school, Duquette said. When students prove themselves there they can move back into the regular classroom.

Union 29 has a large sports program and after-school activities. The high school has numerous playing fields, Duquette said.

Bullecks asked Duquette about the union’s focus and said SAD 39 is focused on literacy.

Duquette said, “It is the same.”

Bullecks had drafted a letter to state Commissioner of Education Susan Gendron voicing concerns over how other districts were not open to merge with SAD 39.

She wrote, “The funding formula was not conducive to allowing school districts with longstanding relationships, similar demographics and similar educational philosophies to join together to form a new regional school union without any of the towns being penalized through higher property taxes.”

The committee did not authorize her sending the letter to Gendron.

SAD 39 Superintendent Rick Colpitts said he intended to write a letter to the state concerning the time element of the law and the funding formula.

Pratt said she also intended to send a letter.