The School Committee voted Monday to expand the membership of its subcommittee that is looking into a possible administrative union with the Blanchard Memorial School in Boxborough. The expanded subcommittee can have up to 12 members, as authorized by the Jan. 23 vote.

Interim Superintendent Joe Connelly suggested that the School Committee ask other groups, such as the school councils and the Harvard Teachers Association, to appoint the new members for the subcommittee "to avoid the idea that [the School Committee is] handpicking members." Connelly said "a broad-based, open-minded committee" was needed.

Connelly explained that the function of the subcommittee would not be to take a position on the union question, but to come up with a process by which the School Committee can obtain community input on the decision.

School Committee chairman Keith Cheveralls said that the final decision on a union is for the School Committee itself to make. But he urged the School Committee to hold a public hearing on the issue and to communicate with Boxborough by early April.

Connelly concurred, saying that a public hearing to focus on the single question of the school union should be held within the next two months.

School Committee member Kirsten Wright noted that the subcommittee's next meeting with representatives from Boxborough is scheduled for Feb. 10. She said it was important for the committee to share this process with the public and to publicize the timeline for a decision.