RUMFORD – A 20-member committee charged with putting together a consolidation plan for two very remote school districts unanimously approved its creation Thursday night.

The plan was written in just five weeks.

SAD 44, based in Bethel, and SAU 37, based in Rangeley, agreed to adopt the plan that would administratively combine the two systems, resulting in a student enrollment of about 1,000.

The action didn’t come without disagreements.

One big sticking issue was permitting separate school committees, as advocated by representatives from Rangeley and its member plantations. Right now, each plantation has a school committee, and Reorganizational Planning Committee Chairwoman Ginny Nuttall of Rangeley, along with other members from SAU 37, wanted the plan to include wording that would allow at least one school committee to represent unit member communities.

“There are 70 miles between us. We are isolated, similar to some areas in Aroostook County. We can’t get this passed in our towns without local school committees,” she said.

In the end, by a vote of 12-8, following representation from Bethel area people and Rangeley area people, the planning committee voted against the panels.

If in three years the proposed new regional school unit board wants school committees, then they could be created.

Speaking against separate school committees was Jim Largess, a representative from Newry.

“I think that goes against what the experts say. Let’s wait three years and see what happens,” he said. “This is the fifth time we’ve brought this up. It’s a very contentious issue and we’ve got to make a decision.”

Facilitator Bill Cumming said representatives from the Rangeley area who are elected to a school unit board can meet with their constituents to discuss concerns.

The planning committee agreed to most other portions of the plan that will be reviewed by the state Department of Education.

The committee set a Jan. 27 date for voters to act on the merger. Until then, the plantations, Rangeley and SAD 44 will hold public hearings.

SAD 44 Superintendent David Murphy said consolidation is an issue that won’t go away.

“If we don’t do this, we’ll have to do it with someone else. If not us, then who?” he asked, referring to neighboring districts that have already agreed on consolidation plans.

Other matters agreed to Thursday included a suit SAU 37 has filed against an insurance company regarding a special education issue. The planning committee agreed that any costs or settlements would remain within the SAU 37 communities.

An estimate of savings during the first two years of a school district comprising SAD 44 and SAU 37 was projected at $118,000 by SAD 44 consultant Jake Clockedile. On top of that is the averted state penalties of about $284,000 if the school systems don’t administratively consolidate.

However, SAU 37 Superintendent Phil Richardson pointed out that bringing all teachers up to parity within the school units could wipe out much of those savings.

Committee co-chairman Sidney Pew said negotiations may not necessarily result in all teachers coming up to the highest salary schedule.

He said, too, that with the state’s budget difficulties, flat funding is expected as well as the possibility that school districts will receive fewer dollars from the state.

SAU 37 comprises the town of Rangeley, and the plantations of Rangeley, Sandy River and Dallas, along with the unaffiliated plantations of Magalloway and Lincoln.

SAD 44 comprises the towns of Andover, Bethel, Newry, Greenwood and Woodstock, and the unaffiliated towns of Gilead and Upton. Several unorganized territories also send their children to the district.

The SAD 44 board will act on the plan Nov. 17 and school committees in Upton and Gilead will act on it Nov. 18. Richardson said committees in his SAU will likely meet to act on the plan the week of Nov. 17.