Twelve candidates will compete for nine positions when the new Windham-Raymond School Committee is elected next month.

Residents of both towns will vote Tuesday, Jan. 27, with Windham choosing among seven candidates for six positions and Raymond electing three members from five candidates. The new Regional School Unit 14 board will take office July 1, 2009.

Candidates from Windham include current Windham School Committee members Kate Brix, Mike Duffy, Marge Govoni and Toby Pennels, as well as Stephen Bow, Kane Loukas and Michael Mack.

In Raymond, Jeraldine Keane, who now chairs the board, is running for a spot on the new board, along with Abigail Davis, Jennifer Mains, Catriona Sangster and Ahliza Shriver.

The Windham-Raymond school merger was approved overwhelmingly by voters in both towns at the polls Nov. 4.