MINOT – The Union 29 School Committee doesn’t like it that state officials are limiting Minot, Mechanic Falls and Poland’s choice for school consolidation partners to SAD 15 in Gray and New Gloucester.

“It doesn’t say in the consolidation law who we can go with. Choice has been taken away from us,” committee member Sue Callahan said Tuesday night.

The problem with merging with SAD 15 is money.

Union 29 Superintendent Dennis Duquette said state figures, which are based on property valuations in the towns, show it would cost Gray and New Gloucester $1.2 million to partner with Union 29 while Union 29 towns would save $1.2 million.

“Gray-New Gloucester officials have been very cordial but they have the same fears that we have and are skeptical whether they can deal with the financial difference,” Duquette said.

He noted that state officials, responding to a situation where financial differences appeared to be a problem, said that they were willing to help financially, but added that he had no idea what that meant since schools are supported by property taxes, which are based on property valuations.

According to the schedule outlined in consolidation law, Union 29 and SAD 15 are to prepare a merger plan to submit to state officials in December and, in January, present the plan to residents in all five towns for acceptance by a referendum. Union 29 business director Rick Kusturin said the penalty for failure to comply with the consolidation law is the loss of one half of the town’s minimum state allocation.

“Based on the year’s numbers, noncompliance would cost Minot about $1.1 million,” said Kusturin.

“That’s blackmail,” said committee member Steve Holbrook.

Committee members suggested Duquette not abandon other potential merger partners.

Holbrook urged Duquette to keep in contact with SAD 39, which includes the towns of Buckfield, Sumner and Hartford.

“A merger with (the town of) Raymond seems to make sense. I’ve heard of support from parents and students from Raymond,” added School Committee member Lisa Sabatine.

Duquette noted that the state never responded to Union 29’s alternate letter of intent to merge with SAD 39 and that, as far as he knew, SAD 39 had been asked to continue talks with SADs 17 in Oxford and SAD 52 in Turner, both of which had earlier turned down suggestions of such a merger. Duquette said he certainly would continue contact with SAD 39 and with the town of Raymond if Raymond’s talks with Windham and Westbrook fall through.

In other business, the committee accepted, with regrets, the resignation of Lisa Sabatine, who is moving from town. The committee intends to appoint her replacement, to serve until March town elections, at its October meeting.