Three members of the Catasauqua Area School District School Board are still not sold on the district distributing laptops and hand-held devices to every Catasauqua High School student.

Board members Dawn Berrigan, Carol McCarthy and Christine Naegel requested at the March 3 meeting that district Superintendent Robert Spengler furnish more information relating to Salisbury School District's laptop roll out program.

Board members Carol Cunningham, Penny Hahn and Donald Panto all expressed support for the proposal.

Among the questions Berrigan, McCarthy and Naegel have are the precise cost of the proposal, where the district currently stands financially and the logistical components of the proposal.

The administration's proposal includes leasing 581 11-inch MacBook Air devices at a cost of $162,964. The devices would come with a four-year lease and the Apple Care Protection Plan.

If approved by the nine-member school board, they would be distributed to every high school student.

Berrigan expressed reservations about the overall proposal, pointing to the current financial status of the school district.

"I'm not really convinced we have the finances to do this," she said.

"We really should know where we are," added Naegel.

CASD Superintendent Robert Spengler said due to the aged nature of current computers in the district, action must be taken. Currently the district is using Windows-based devices, many of which have not been replaced since 2004.

"If we are going to do something, we need to do it well," Spengler said. "We're at a point where we need to address this [technology] now."

Berrigan further asked how much it would cost the school district to update all existing computers at the three schools.

Wayne Karess, district network manager, said the cost to upgrade the old computers would be three times more than the cost of the MacBook Air proposal. In that scenario, devices in the computer labs would be upgraded, and each student would not be assigned to his or her own laptop.

"How are we going to afford $600,000?" board President Penny Hahn asked Berrigan.

Spengler reiterated the board the past few years has budgeted no dollars for technology. He said the district should be setting aside at least $300,000 for technology-related matters in the budget. Spengler also said updating the district's current computers is not an option.

Berrigan also questioned students who may not have Internet access at home.

"Part of the problem I see is not every home has WiFi," she said. "I think that's a component we need to add into this."

Panto, a supporter of the proposal, said many students can tether into a laptop by way of their cellphone. If connection issues do surface, he said the schools will have to explore other options.

"The no-access issues we would have to address [on a case-by-case basis," Panto said.

McCarthy said she is concerned about the logistics of implementing the program.

"I guess I just don't have enough confidence this will be smooth and cooperative," she said.

CHS Principal David Ascani said the roll-out of MacBooks would take place over a period of a few days to accommodate all parents. Meetings would consist of instructions distributed to parents and students. Parents and students would also be required to sign off on a packet of information. There would also be an insurance option available, consisting of a $50 annual fee, permitting students to take the device home with them after school. Alternative options are being discussed to provide insurance to economically disadvantaged students.

Cunningham, in support of the proposal, stressed the district has not invested the necessary funds into technology the past few years.

"From my perspective, I think the board should embrace this," she said.

Ascani told the board high school teachers are excited about the possibility of the district converting to one-to-one technology.

Panto emphasized the board should not further delay making a decision regarding the proposal.

Spengler said he would put together Salisbury School District's approach for the board to review. The board will discuss the proposal again at their April 1 meeting.

According to Spengler, the cost of the program would be provided for by a recent bond refinance approved by the board, resulting in a savings of $200,000.

Using laptops and hand-held devices would eliminate the need for physical textbooks and allow students to work on assignments from virtually any location at any time, Spengler said.

Spengler advised the board it must make a decision by the first board meeting in April so the program can be adequately put together and ready the beginning of the 2014-15 academic year.