AUGUSTA -- It would seem the towns of School Administrative District 53 did everything in their power to comply with the state's school district consolidation mandate.

Burnham, Detroit and Pittsfield were among the first towns to submit a completed merger plan to the state Department of Education. And in a June vote, the three towns approved the plan.

But SAD 53 still faces the same state-imposed penalties -- reductions to its state subsidy -- meant for those districts that do not comply with the consolidation mandate.

That could change this winter, however, when Education Commissioner Susan Gendron plans to propose legislation that would allow SAD 53 and districts in similar situations more time to find merger partners before they face penalties.

"They shouldn't be penalized if they're moving in the right direction," Gendron told the Legislature's Education Committee on Wednesday.

SAD 53 had a merger partner in Madison-based SAD 59, but SAD 59 voters' rejection of the consolidation proposal derailed the districts' merger plans.

For now, Gendron's proposed changes to the consolidation law would help only SAD 53. But as voters decide on 12 more merger plans on Nov. 4, SAD 53 might find some company in merging districts that split their vote.