DURHAM – The Durham-Freeport-Pownal school committees met this week at Freeport High School as a joint board for Regional School Unit No. 5.

It was the first meeting since voters in the three towns approved consolidation.

Board members named Shannon Welsh interim secretary and scheduled a special election for the new school system Board of Directors on Jan. 13.

Nomination papers are available at the town offices in each of the three towns and at the Freeport superintendent’s office, 17 West St. in Freeport. The nomination papers must be returned no later than 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, to Shannon Welsh at the Freeport superintendent’s office. The office will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 28. Nomination papers can be taken out and returned on the same day.

Durham has three openings, for one-, two- and three-year terms to be determined by drawing lots. So far, Cori Holt and Laurie Poissonnier, incumbent school board members, have taken out papers, Welsh said.

Freeport has six openings, for one-, two- and three-year terms, to be determined by drawing lots. Six people have taken out papers, Nelson Larkins, Beth Parker and John Morang, current members of the Freeport School Board; along with Kirsten Dorsey, Beth Kielty and Paul Lowe.

Pownal has two openings for two- and three-year terms, also to be determined by drawing lots. So far, Jen Blackstone-Kaplan, a member of the SAD 62 Board of Directors, has taken out papers.

For further information, call Shannon Welsh at 212-8529.