LIVERMORE – SAD 36 directors advanced policy and procedures last week that, if approved after a third reading, would allow seventh- and eighth-graders to take school laptop computers home.

Parents would have the final say on whether their children would take the Apple iBook G4s home because they would be responsible for them if they are damaged.

The cost to replace the computers that contain education software is $1,000.

Approval of a second reading, which followed a vote to cease discussion, was approved 10-1 with Denise Rodzen of Livermore Falls the lone dissenter on Thursday.

From what she read in the policy, Rodzen said, “We are pretty much putting together a policy that covers (us) but doesn’t really do anything for the parent.”

The district has not allowed students to take the state-issued laptops home in the past.

The state has made it “crystal clear that we have to afford our students the opportunity to take the school laptops home,” Middle School Principal Ted Finn told directors.

Parents have the right not to let it come into the house, he said, and children would not be penalized in school because of that choice.

Some directors raised concerns over students not being responsible enough to take laptops home, computers being damaged during transportation to and from school, parents who don’t have $1,000 to replace them and students damaging other students’ iBooks intentionally.

It would be a parental choice, Superintendent Terry Despres said.

When asked about insurances for the computers, Despres said, that most of the insurances are front-end policies with a deductible that doesn’t cover such things as damage to a computer screen, which would cost $500 to $600 to replace.

Despres said that the district may want to think about self-insuring in future years by putting money aside in the budget.

If the policy is approved, parents and students would be required to attend a mandatory meeting and sign a contract if they want their children to take the laptops home, Finn said.

Among the take-home procedures are that if a student violates the computer use guidelines he or she wouldn’t be able to take the computers home. After a month, the student’s eligibility would be reviewed to determine if the laptops could go home again.

When iBooks are taken home, it is the expectation that it will be used in a common family location under adult supervision. Students will also not be able to go onto the Internet at home with the computer.

Special arrangements would have to be made in advance for students participating in extra curricular activities because laptops are not to be taken into locker rooms, onto playing fields and other other arenas. They are also not to be carried in backpacks or other containers with any other items and are not allowed to be transported on bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles or other recreational vehicles.

The policy and procedures also outlines laptop misuse and abuse consequences.