DIXFIELD – The SAD 21 board this week granted its superintendent a 3 percent pay increase, but at his request did not extend his contract.

Superintendent Tom Ward, who is in his fifth year as head of the four-town district, said Thursday afternoon that his salary for 2008-2009 will be just under $96,000, up from $93,000.

He is in the first year of a three-year contract that expires in 2010.

He said he asked the board not to extend that contract, as is usually done during the annual evaluation, because of talks that could lead to a merger of SADs 21, 43 and 39.

“I’m leaving my future in the hands of the (new) regional school unit board,” he said.

That board, expected to consist of 17 members from the three school districts, should be in place by autumn, he said.

The districts began talks a few weeks ago.

Another meeting, at which a recommendation for how a regional school unit board will be organized, is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Tuesday at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford.