PARIS — The School Administrative District 17 board of directors voted Monday night to continue the statewide computer program at the middle school for the next four years.

A decision on whether to continue the program at the high school will be made when the contract lapses next year.

The state, under the Maine Learning Technology Initiative program, has offered to “refresh” 550 laptops with Apple for four years at the Oxford Hills Middle School and across the state. The district will have to pay the $18,500 cost for the repairs to computers that are returned broken.

“The state has made us an offer we can’t refuse,” District Technology Director Mike Dunn told the board.

But at the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, Dunn said he will make a presentation to the board in December on whether to renew the contract or take advantage of a buyout. School officials believe they can run its own less-expensive laptop program.

The high cost of repairs to damaged machines and the ability to put in place another less expensive ChromeBook program at the high school and still meet program needs is the rationale behind the potential move.

Middle schools across the state have been contracting with the Maine Learning Technology Initiative program that started 12 years ago under Gov. Angus King. A few years ago, the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School bought into the program.

The initiative made Maine the first state to equip all students and teachers in grades seven to 12 with personal learning technology statewide. Initially, the program was offered to every seventh- and eighth-grade student and seventh- through 12th-grade teacher statewide. It also offered WiFi access and professional development plus other programs to fully tap the potential of technology in the classroom.

While board members agreed to the recommendation, some, like Paris director Bob Jewell, said he was concerned with the high rate of repairs that is about $80,000.

Administrators say it is a problem, and less than half of the students have paid for an option that provides free repairs. The rest must pay the cost to repair their computers, which they say is very expensive.

“It’s a great device, but it’s easily damaged and these repairs are not cheap,” Superintendent Rick Colpitts told directors. 

In other action, the board agreed to approve Mark Soehren as the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School head football coach again for the 2016 season.

A large contingent of Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School football players appeared at the May 2 board meeting in support of coach Soehren, 46, and read statements asking that his position not be cut. The players said they had circulated a petition with more than 250 names asking that the coach be retained.

In other action, the board of directors:

• Approved a field trip to Chinatown in Boston for students who participated in Mandarin or Chinese culture and language classes;

• Approved the warrants for the SAD 17 budget meeting June 9 and validation referendum on June 14.

ldixon@sunmediagroup.net

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