RUMFORD – The SAD 43 board will meet at 6:30 tonight to continue discussion of merging administrative services with one or more nearby districts.

The superintendents and board chairmen from SADs 43, 21 in Dixfield, 39 in Buckfield and 44 in Bethel met last week to begin conversations. Since then, the Rangeley school district has indicated a possible interest in meeting with the four districts.

That meeting, and another scheduled for Aug. 28, are behind closed doors with the public barred from hearing the talks.

After that date, a Regional Planning Committee will be formed to develop a solid merger plan to submit to the state by Dec. 1.

Those meetings will be open to the public.

At a previous SAD 43 meeting, the board agreed that eight people from the SAD 43 area should participate on the Regional Planning Committee.

At least four board members have expressed interest.

Superintendent Jim Hodgkin plans to contact the district’s four member towns to find about four others to serve on what he believes will be at least twice a week planning meetings.

Other items set for discussion or action include a report by Mountain Valley High School Principal Matt Gilbert, staff transfers and resignations.

Also on the agenda is a discussion on the Policy Committee and volunteering by board members.