What is the timeline in the voluntary merger bill - which things are voluntary and which things are mandatory?

Board discussion. On or before December 1, 2010, the board of each supervisory union in the state shall discuss, and the board of every school district may discuss, whether it wishes to explore the merger of districts within the supervisory union or with one or more districts outside of the supervisory union, or both under the terms of this act.

Board vote. On or before October 1, 2012, each supervisory union board shall vote whether to perform a more comprehensive analysis of potential merger, and shall report the results of its vote to the commissioner of education and the voters of each member school district.

Is it assumed that if a group of districts voluntarily merge that there will be one Board - does the law address the composition of that board?

Consistent with the proportional representation requirements of the equal protection clause of the Constitution of the United States, [the merger planning committee report will determine] the method of apportioning the representation that each proposed member district shall have on the union school board. The union school board shall have no more than 18 members, and each member district shall be entitled to at least one representative;