AUGUSTA (AP) – The deadline for superintendents to say whether they’ll join the state’s interim program to put laptops in high schools was Friday, but state officials probably will not have a final tally until early next week.

Enough schools must agree to participate by July 30 to account for 8,400 computers – the minimum threshold for Apple Computer Corp. to agree to the same low price for laptops in Maine’s 241 public middle schools.

Education Commissioner Susan Gendron has said 58 superintendents have indicated interest. That would meet the minimum number, but some of those dropped out because school boards did not support the idea.

The annual fee would be $300 per laptop for four years. That cost includes servers and repairs from Apple, and Apple also would provide training and assist in installing the wireless networks that link the computers.

School districts could apply for money from a state renovation fund to install wireless networks before students return this fall.

AP-ES-07-30-04 0924EDT