RUMFORD – The SAD 43 board Monday approved spending up to $105,000 so freshmen and sophomore students will have laptop computers. The board also approved creation of a new position that will coordinate a first-ever after-school and summer school program.

Superintendent Jim Hodgkin said he doubts the district will need to spend the entire $105,000 for the 350 laptops, which will be issued to ninth- and 10th-graders and high school staff this year. Some of that money will likely be needed next year, when the district plans to extend laptop availability to juniors and seniors.

The funds come from a technology bond approved by voters in June.

For $300 each, the district will rent the laptops, receive the wiring required for their use, and obtain training for staff.

Technology coordinator Wally Devoe said tentative plans are to rent 250 additional laptops for juniors and seniors next year.

Hodgkin said the district decided to rent rather than purchase laptops because such action would stretch the available funds.

Students will likely have access to laptops sometime in October. With Monday’s board decision, all students in grades seven through 10 will have laptops under the support of the state’s laptop initiative.

Also on Monday, the board unanimously agreed to hire a three-quarter-time coordinator for the River Valley Community Learning Center, a federally funded after-school and summer school program aimed at academically and behaviorally at-risk elementary school children in grades three through eight.

The district received $135,000 for each of three years for the program.

Curriculum Coordinator Gloria Jenkins said earlier that the district may have an option to continue the grant for two additional years. The four-day-a-week program is expected to be up and running by late September.

In other matters, the board approved several changes in the Mountain Valley High School handbook. The changes include requiring four years of science, up from three, and eliminating the gymnastics program.

They also approved changing the athletic director’s position to a full-time administrative position to cover grades six through 12. When voting to approve the job description, the board required that the director report to the board at least four times a year.

The annual barbecue for freshmen and their parents, to welcome first-year students to the high school, was set for 6 p.m. Aug. 30.

Classes for all students begin on Sept. 1.