Beginning next academic year, seventh-through-12th grade students in the Saucon Valley School District will be provided a new iPad.

The school board at its June 9 meeting expanded the one-to-one technology program by approving by a vote of 6-3 a iPad three-year lease that will provide 1,200 new iPads.

Voting against the lease were board members Edward Inghrim, Bryan Eichfeld and Susan Baxter.

The annual cost amounts to $151,076.

The older iPads currently in use will be distributed to earlier grades.

Also, the board approved a four-year lease for new MacBooks for teachers at an annual cost of $52,580.

Baxter opposed the lease, asking if the board could purchase the devices in the future rather than lease them.

"The board worked long and hard on eliminating our leases for the computers and that was to give us flexibility in budgeting," she said. "By going back to leasing, we're actually limiting our flexibility for changing our budget in the future."

Eichfeld expressed concern with the lease impact on the budget.

"I'm concerned," he said. "I don't like a budget where we're spending more on a regular basis than we're taking in."

Inghrim said he is opposed to purchasing iPads for every student regardless of the family income. He also said students will not be fully prepared for the future as the iPad is not compatible with other devices like Androids.

"The devices are exploding," he said. "And, we have to learn how to interconnect these technology devices. This technology group is saying we can't do that. So, you're not preparing the kids for the future."

Board member Ralph Purerta spoke in favor of the new lease.

"I don't have a problem taking on this three-year lease," he said.

The board also voted to begin offering iPad insurance within the district. The cost is $45 per child with no deductible on the first claim and $100 on the second claim.

Students on reduced lunch would be required to pay $22.50.

Before the devices are distributed, parents and guardians must opt in or out of the insurance program.