FARMINGTON – The SAD 9 school board Tuesday night debated a policy change for physical education requirements for high school students for the class of 2012 and beyond.

The policy change states that students who participate in a varsity sport for one season or a junior varsity sport for two seasons can waive their third semester of physical education.

Director Yvette Robinson disagreed with the policy, saying the waiver was “unprecedented” and that it “places more value on those particular extracurricular activities.”

She argued that students who perform in plays do not receive extra credit or that students involved in the Math Club are not exempt from taking a math class.

Superintendent Michael Cormier said that 50 to 60 percent of high school students are involved in a sport and added that “it may be a way to encourage more to go out for a sport.”

Also on the agenda was the nomination to enter into a long-term lease program with Apple Computers. The first phase of the agreement consists of offering 130 new MacBooks for the K-6 teachers in the district in addition to replacing the 250 iBooks at Mt. Blue High School with MacBooks.

The long-term plan that is proposed to begin in the 2009-10 school year would include leasing MacBooks to students entering ninth grade each year at Mt. Blue High School. They would be able to use the laptops throughout their four years. The plan also includes trading in about $60,000 worth of older computer equipment.

In other business, the Healthy Community Coalition presented a plaque to SAD 9 for its efforts in promoting health and nutrition throughout the district. The coalition is an affiliate of the Franklin Community Health Network.