RUMFORD – The SAD 43 board this week adopted policies that allow students to take laptops home and determine how medicines are administered at school.

They also affirmed retention of the kindergarten-through-grade-5 class structure as the district considers the closure or change of use for one of its three elementary schools.

Superintendent Jim Hodgkin said the policy governing medication is now in line with state requirements. Included in the policy changes are requirements that medicine be brought to school by parents in original bottles with doctors’ orders. Two exceptions are bee sting medicine and asthma inhalers. Students may carry these medications providing they also carry a doctor’s note indicating that the child knows how to use the medicines.

Sign-outs for laptop computers will likely begin just before Christmas. Hodgkin said parents must first attend meetings, soon to be set, where they will learn of the school’s policy for using school-owned laptops. Parents will also be required to pay an insurance fee of up to $60 for the laptops. The fee will depend on student eligibility for free or reduced lunches.

Hodgkin said the board voted unanimously to retain the kindergarten-through-grade-5 elementary class structure.

On Nov. 16, the public is invited to attend a special meeting in which administration will discuss possible alternative uses for Virginia Elementary School. Because of the decline in the number of elementary students, the district is considering closing the school and possibly using the building for other district programs.

The board also entered into a closed session to discuss the format for evaluating the superintendent next month.