RUMFORD – An ad hoc committee of the SAD 43 board is reconsidering its efforts to find alternatives to fund some after-school activities because of a plan to merge with other districts.

“We’re not sure if we want to continue on this path because of the consolidation vote,” said Chris Brennick, SAD 43 Mexico representative and chairman of the After School Programs Committee.

That will be a major topic of discussion when they meet at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at Mountain Valley High School.

Two months ago, the committee began looking for ways to help pay for some activities when a question arose about whether a couple of middle school sports programs could go ahead. So far, the committee has discussed the possibility of initiating an intra-mural sports program as well as whether a pay to participate policy should go into effect, similar to one in neighboring SAD 21.

The ad hoc committee has wanted to find ways to help fund some school costs to help lift some of the burden from taxpayers. The committee had also planned to talk with the Mountain Valley Boosters to try to find ways the two groups could work together.

“Consolidation is a big factor now,” Brennick said.

The 11 towns in SADs 43, 21 and 39, plus the town of Hanover voted Nov. 4 to consolidate administration. That plan is now under way.

Brennick said perhaps the new school board that will govern the three districts should deal with the issue. That board will be elected in January.

For now, though, he said he will discuss the implication of the consolidation vote with SAD 43 Superintendent Jim Hodgkin, and meet with the committee next month.

The committee is comprised of school board members Linda Westleigh, Tracey Higley, Jeff Sterling, Gloria Morton, Marcia Chaisson, district athletic director John Bernard, and administrators from the high school and middle school.