NORTH ADAMS — A plan to study regionalization among Northern Berkshire school districts has stalled after bids came in tens of thousands of dollars over budget.

The Northern Berkshire Regionalization Committee has $125,000 in grant funding to examine potential collaboration or regionalization among the four school districts.

The 16-member committee is responding to declining enrollment among all four districts, which has led to a narrowing of educational options for students. The high schools have begun some collaboration already, most notably in athletics.

In response, the committee is narrowing the scope of work as it prepares to issue a second request for proposals.

"We're trying to have it more focused on community engagement and collecting of initial data to allow the towns to provide some input," said North Berkshire School Union Superintendent John Franzoni.

While the bulk of the state aid — a $100,000 earmark — is not under an immediate spending deadline, an additional $25,000 earmark must be spent by June 30, Franzoni said.

"We're really looking at getting this RFP posted, trying to get some responses in April, I would hope some interviews in early May and try to have somebody in place by the end of May," he said.

The committee first rejected a proposal from Berkshire Educational Resources K-12 for failing to follow submission directions at its Feb. 4 meeting. BERK12's proposal was priced at $149,500.

At its Feb. 25 meeting, the committee unanimously rejected bids from out-of-town consultants: one led by Morristown N.J. law firm Porzio, Bromberg Newman & Newman, whose bid was $213,400; the other by Academic Discoveries of Boylston and The Management Solution of Auburn, whose bid was $172,000.

The committee will meet 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at McCann Technical School to review and finalize its second request for proposals from consultants.

At the Feb. 25 meeting, John Jacobbe of Clarksburg was added as a member, rounding out the committee to 16. Four superintendents are serving ex officio, as non-voting members.