PITTSFIELD -- School Administrative District 53 is going for the doughnut hole.

That's according to Superintendent Michael Gallagher, who said Monday that the district will apply for the so-called "doughnut hole" type of exemption under the state's school consolidation law.

SAD 53 officials are scrambling to come up with a consolidation plan to avoid a $175,000 penalty by the end of January.

Gallagher said SAD 53, which serves Pittsfield, Burnham and Detroit, is still trying to partner with other school districts.

He has contacted four bordering school communities that don't need to consolidate under state law because of their student populations -- SAD 54 (Skowhegan), SAD 3 (Unity), SAD 49 (Fairfield) and Regional School Unit 19 (Newport) -- to see if they would, nevertheless, be interested in partnering.

"We absolutely want to comply with law and recognize we made many efforts early on," Gallagher said. "SAD 53 does not want to have penalties inhibit the education of our children."

The boards of SAD 54 and SAD 3 "both have indicated they have chosen to, at this point, remain as they are currently," Gallagher said. The SAD 49 board is scheduled to consider the proposal when it meets Thursday at 7 p.m. at Lawrence High School and the RSU 19 board will take up the matter next Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Nokomis Regional High library.

William Braun, superintendent of RSU 19, said he won't recommend the school board act one way or the other.

"It's really up to them," Braun said. "The only benefit (for RSU 19) would be to try and save on operating costs over the long term."

Under the so-called "doughnut hole" provision, SAD 53 could be exempted from the consolidation law if it receives permission from Education Commissioner Susan Gendron. The school district may serve 1,000 to 1,200 students "in an isolated rural community."

Now, SAD 53 has 1,053 students. That's 742 students in kindergarten through eighth grade and 311 students at Maine Central Institute.

In order to qualify for the provision, SAD 53 would need to meet one of the following requirements:

* Become part of a regional school unit that includes three or more school administrative units that existed before July 1, 2008.

* Member communities of the district are surrounded by approved regional school units and there are no other systems available to partner with.

* Member communities of the district include two or more "isolated small schools" that are eligible for such status.

If the commissioner were to deny SAD 53's application, school officials could appeal to the State Board of Education.

Portland-based law firm Drummond Woodsum will advise SAD 53 as it applies for the exemption, Gallagher said.

Scott Monroe -- 861-9253

smonroe@centralmaine.com