VASSALBORO -- Vassalboro's School Committee will pursue a regionalized relationship with Waterville, China and Winslow after Tuesday night's decision.

The committee also voted down a proposal to form a regionalized school unit (RSU). Previous RSU talks had included the Messalonskee School District, Waterville, Winslow, China and Vassalboro.

Tuesday's decision excluded Messalonskee, but Vassalboro would strongly prefer to get nearby China to come on board.

"We are attached at the hip," Vassalboro School Committee Chair Lori Fowle said, referring to China.

The board decided to send two letters of intent, one to include China, and one that didn't include China, in case efforts to entice the community were unsuccessful.

Earlier this week, the Waterville Board of Education began examining an education plan that would allow for sharing of some functions but allow school systems to retain separate identities. Known as an "alternate organization structure," or AOS, the plan would allow two or more school systems to operate under one superintendent, have consistent bargaining contracts, one business office and one transportation director.

It also could allow school systems to retain their own debt and their own properties.

This is the type of plan that Vassalboro will pursue with the other three communities.

The Winslow School Committee earlier this month voted unanimously to reject a plan to consolidate with the Messalonskee School District -- which comprises Oakland, Sidney, Belgrade and Rome -- as well as the towns of China and Vassalboro.

In February, Waterville rejected a plan for the city's school system to merge with Winslow, China, Vassalboro and the Messalonskee School District. Waterville School Superintendent Eric Haley said the cost to Waterville to merge would be significant.

The state earlier this summer turned down Waterville's request to reorganize as a single unit. Haley said that School Unit 52 Superintendent Hugh Riordan was taking with the Winslow School Committee about the AOS plan.

Joel Elliott -- 861-9252

jelliott@centralmaine.com