PITTSFIELD – The local school district is feeling like the last kid picked at gym class as it struggles to find a partner for the state-mandated consolidation plan.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Michael Gallagher has been notified that if SAD 53 has not consolidated by Jan. 30, 2009, more than $175,000 in state funding will be lost.

“This would mean positions, possibly up to three, and programs,” Gallagher said Tuesday. “We would have to look at everything.”

Gallagher is protesting the loss of revenue and has written to Department of Education Commissioner Susan Gendron. “It was my understanding – and most other districts’ understanding as well – that if we continued to move forward in the consolidation process, there would be no loss of funding.”

At Monday’s SAD 53 board meeting, the members voted to continue to press Gendron on the funding issue, to hire a lawyer to provide legal advice, and to continue to try to find a consolidation partner.

Gallagher said that SAD 53 should not be financially penalized because its voters approved the consolidation and the district shouldn’t be penalized for what voters in another district did.

After being rejected by SADs 3, 49 and 54 – because they were going it alone – the district entered into discussions with SAD 48. That district, which includes six towns surrounding Newport, then failed to include SAD 53 in its final plan.

The district then turned to SAD 59, the Madison school district. In June, voters in SAD 53 overwhelmingly approved the merger, but those in the town of Madison did not. By just 32 votes, the consolidation with SAD 59 failed.

“We are aware that SAD 53 is in a difficult spot,” David Connerty-Marin of the DOE said Tuesday. “But the law is clear. It requires reorganization by January 30, 2009.” Connerty-Marin said SAD 53 has the option to request another vote by SAD 59. “But in any event, it is good that talks between SAD 53 and other districts are continuing.”

If there is no final reorganization on Jan. 31, penalties will be effective in July, he said. That date was selected because it is linked to state budgeting.

Connerty-Marin said that by next week, more than half of the state’s districts will have complete, approved reconsolidation plans. “Right now, we have 80 units and 40 alternative plans,” he said. “There has really been a lot of progress.”

Meanwhile, SAD 53 is left floating. Gallagher said that SAD 59 decided not to call for a revote since the board members felt the vote was not so much a rejection of SAD 53 but a desire to link with SAD 74.

SAD 74 already has linked with SADs 12 and 13 and five rural plantations. A week ago, the Regional Planning Committee serving those districts voted to include SAD 59. Gallagher said that new letters of intent must be mailed to Gendron by each board within that district.

Gallagher said SAD 53 could begin talks with that new group, which would stretch from Madison to Jackman and include 15 towns and five plantations. SAD 53 includes the towns of Pittsfield, Detroit and Burnham.

“Any one of those boards could choose not to file the letters of intent and then they would be out of the mix,” he said. “If all vote yes, it goes to the Jan. 30 vote. If any one of those towns votes zero, we’re back to square one.”

Connerty-Marin said, “Everyone involved has a common interest in moving this forward.” He explained that should any board opt out of consolidation, as long as the remaining towns’ school population is above 1,200 students, a new Regional School Unit could be formed. “The individual town votes don’t matter,” Connerty-Marin said.

“It’s frustrating. It’s confusing. We are absolutely up in the air,” Gallagher said.

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