OXFORD – Gateway Computers will supply 79 new desktop computers for Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.

The SAD 17 Board of Directors accepted Gateway’s low bid of $72,680 over the $75,264 bid offered by Dell.

“Based on the lower price, and the excellent experience we have had with Gateway computers and technical support, Christian (Breau) and I recommend that the board award the bid to Gateway,” Business Manager Cathy Fanjoy wrote in a memo to the board.

The equipment will replace computers in two labs at the high school and add one computer lab. The computers to be replaced are eight years old and were paid for with construction funds from the high school expansion, according to board member Don Gouin.

Superintendent Mark Eastman said the Finance Committee is recommending that the computers be paid for through a lease-purchase agreement. He said the district didn’t budget the expense, anticipating that the state would expand its laptop computer program to high school freshmen, which it did not.

Eastman said if the district doesn’t replace the 79 computers this year, “we’re going to get really behind.”

District Technology Coordinator Christian Breau said the old computers would be stripped down for any components that can be used in servicing other computers in the school. Non-serviceable parts will be disposed of in a proper manner over time, he added.

Gorham Savings Leasing Group will provide the financing at 3.83 percent interest.

In other action, the board approved educational trips abroad that are being organized by two high school teachers. Atticus Ford will be taking a group of about nine students to Italy and Greece in a nine-day trip beginning April 14 and stretching over spring break. The trip is arranged through EF Tours, an organization that the high school has used for five years for international trips.

English teacher Wendy Simpson will be taking eight students for an eight-day trip to Mexico Feb. 17-24. The students have had at least one year of Spanish language instruction or have some connection to the Spanish language. The trip is being arranged by My Explorica.