RUMFORD – The committee planning for consolidation of school systems in Bethel and Rangeley struggled Thursday night with issues of sharing costs, indebtedness and the possibility of one superintendent’s office.

Members didn’t agree on whether separate school committees are needed, voting 12-6 to table the issue until next week.

The two systems are so different, said Ginny Nuttall of Rangeley, co-chairwoman of the Reorganizational Planning Committee, that they should at least try having their individual school committees. “I don’t see this passing in our area without it,” she said.

Jim Largess, a SAD 44 representative from Newry, argued that allowing the establishment of local school committees means people are not willing to try governing with one board.

“It would be an us vs. them from the get-go,” said Dennis Doyon, a Bethel selectman.

The agreement the two systems are trying to work out allows school committees to be formed three years after consolidation. If the committee decides otherwise, local school committees could be created earlier. Many from the Rangeley area want local school committees formed from the beginning.

Both systems have agreed to establish a 20-member governing board, with seven from the Rangeley area and 13 from the Bethel area.

SAD 44 Superintendent David Murphy said none of the 17 school systems plans developed under the state-mandated consolidation law include local school committees.

School Union 37 in Rangeley is comprised of six school committees, which includes one each from most of the plantations and the town of Rangeley.

The committee voted 12-6 to table the issue until its final meeting at 6 p.m. Nov. 6 at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford.

The two school systems began working to develop a consolidation plan five weeks ago. They must submit their proposal to the Department of Education by Nov. 14. Between now and then, the systems’ respective boards must also meet and vote to send it to the state.

Also on Thursday, the committee set the date for residents of the two school systems to vote on whether they want to consolidate. That vote will be held Tuesday, Jan. 27. Each town or plantation in the proposed new school system will set voting hours.

Those communities are Andover, Bethel, Greenwood, Newry and Woodstock in SAD 44, and Rangeley and Dallas, Lincoln, Magalloway, Rangeley and Sandy River plantations;

The committee also agreed that one superintendent’s office would serve both school systems. The exact positions will be determined by the new governing board, but may include a special education director, curriculum coordinator, business manager in some form, facilities and transportation director, and others.

All new school systems are required by law to begin operating by July 1, 2009.