BETHEL – SAD 44 directors voted unanimously Tuesday night to file a letter of intent with the state Department of Education to begin plans to merge with School Union 37 in Rangeley, 76 miles to the north.

The Union 37 committee was reportedly voting on a similar letter Wednesday, but the result was not available late at night.

SAD 44 Superintendent David Murphy said the two school systems plan to meet weekly at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, which is about halfway between their administrative offices.

If SAD 44 and Union 37 consolidate, the new system would have 1,000 students, plus a couple hundred more from surrounding unorganized territories.

The groups will meet again at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, then each Thursday until mid-November, when a plan must be submitted to the Department of Education.

In other matters at Tuesday’s SAD 44 meeting, Murphy said the board learned of a $5,000 Department of Agriculture grant for Woodstock Elementary School pupils. He said the funds must be used to buy fresh fruits and vegetables for the 85 kindergarten to fifth grade pupils. The produce must be served as snacks and not as part of breakfast or lunch.

Murphy said Karen Wilson, a grade five teacher at the school, is coordinating the grant. Many of the fruits and vegetables will be purchased from local farmers and farm stands.

The board will meet Nov. 10 at Crescent Park Elementary School in Bethel.