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Maine
pursues plan to give computers to students
Associated Press
January 26, 2002
PORTLAND, Maine — Despite a budget crunch, Maine is
moving forward with a plan to put a computer on the
lap of every seventh and eighth grader in the state.
After
signing a four-year, $37.2 million contract last year
with Apple, the state plans to place the first iBook
laptop computers in nine demonstration schools next
month.
Two
thousand teachers will get laptops this spring, and
seventh graders will see them this fall in 241 schools
across Maine. Within two years, 33,000 middle school
students will have computers.
Other
school districts around the country have provided laptops
to students, and Michigan has provided laptops to its
teachers. But Maine's program is believed to be the
first to give students computers statewide.
The
timing of the effort may put it in jeopardy. Not all
lawmakers support spending so much money while the state
faces a potential $250 million shortfall, and some are
suggesting scaling back or eliminating the laptop plan.
"In
the face of the cuts the Legislature is going to have
to consider in health care and other essential programs,
you had better believe that the laptop fund is on the
table," said Representative Joseph Bruno, the Republican
leader.
But
Gov. Angus King, an independent, said his resolve to
buy the computers remained strong. Computers are the
tools of the 21st century, Mr. King said, and students
need to incorporate them into everyday life.
Mr.
King's plan still has a lot of support among state lawmakers.
"The
program may have to be cut a little, but I still think
we should go through with it," said Representative Richard
H. Mailhot, a Democrat. "It's very important for the
education of our children."
Originally,
the state planned to spend $50 million as the foundation
for an endowment, but that was cut to $30 million last
year. Mr. King has proposed another cut of $5 million.
The
contract with Apple has a clause that allows the state
to back out if financing falls short.
"I
won't count it as done until I see the laptops delivered
to the classrooms," Mr. King said.
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