Residents from five towns merging into one regional school district can soon become candidates for the district's new 12-member school board.

Nomination papers for Dresden, Farmingdale, Hallowell, Monmouth and Richmond residents are available starting this week in their respective town offices. They are due back to the town offices Sept. 19. Voters will elect board members on Nov. 4.

The administrative offices for the five towns' school districts are merging into one under the state's school-district consolidation law.

The new district's board, which will begin operating in January, will have two members each from Dresden, Farmingdale and Hallowell and three members each from Monmouth and Richmond.

The board's first task will be hiring a superintendent for the merged district. The new district takes effect July 1, 2009.