READFIELD -- School Union 42 members are preparing to cast votes this evening weighing in on local plans to consolidate the Fayette, Maranacook-area and Winthrop school districts.

The Union 42 towns -- Manchester, Mount Vernon, Readfield and Wayne -- are proposing to merge school administrative offices with Fayette's and Winthrop's schools. The proposed merger, which voters will accept or reject on Jan. 27, is the six towns' effort to comply with Maine's school district consolidation mandate.

The board members' vote, which takes place today at 6:30 p.m., comes as the committee that crafted the merger plan hosts the first of three information sessions for voters in advance of the Jan. 27 vote. The board will meet at Readfield Elementary School.

Tonight's information session takes place at Fayette Central School. Sessions also take place Wednesday at Maranacook Community High School in Readfield and Thursday at the Winthrop Town Office. All sessions begin at 7 p.m.