Academic offerings could also be expanded if each student had a computer to use, Gallagher said. “Every youngster (would have) access to all programs. So if a child wants French 5, we could do it right here through a virtual high school.”

Csizmesia said everybody is excited about the possibilities.

Last year, Mount Anthony Union Middle School in Bennington bought netbook computers for each of its students. At MAUMS, the purchase was done more for the purpose of increasing educational opportunities than computers replacing textbooks. At the time, officials believed MAUMS was the first school of its size in Vermont to offer one-to-one computing.

In addition to laptops for students, the Arlington school board is considering the purchase of laptops for their use at meetings to reduce the amount of paper distributed in school board packets. The laptops, which would belong to the district, would not only reduce supplies such as paper and toner, but it could also reduce the time staff takes to put together the packets.

The board asked administrators to come back with more information about the computers regarding liability, whether board members would bring them home and if they could be used for other purposes as well.

Gallagher suggested money from the technology sinking fund could be used to purchase the laptops, which he estimated would cost from $700 to $800 apiece.

The laptops would allow board members to access school board documents at meetings and other information such as policies.

The question arose whether board members could use their own computers at meetings, although there is questions about accessibility to the school system on personal computers.

In the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union, a number of school boards use district-owned laptops that are insured and brought home by the members. The business office estimated new Lenovo Think Pad laptops recently bought for the Mount Anthony Union school board cost about $680 each (including the cost of carrying bags and necessary software). The investment, administration said, would pay for itself within a year and a half when taking into account the money that will be saved on supplies and staff time.

For the rest of the article, go to Arlington School District explores book-free future