ADAMS TWP — A program that in the 2013-14 school year had each Mars High School student receive a laptop computer will not be expanded to the middle school, which the school board in April had voted to do.

The Mars School Board on Tuesday heard interim Superintendent William Pettigrew recommend that instead of giving each middle school student a laptop as planned, 10 carts containing 30 laptops each be leased for students.

“We would move the carts through the school as needed,” Pettigrew said.

He said the school’s three computer labs would augment the program.

The cost for a three-year lease that would include the carts and laptops would be about $230,000.

He said that price is for Lenovo laptops used by the high school students. Unlike the high school students, the middle schoolers would not take the laptops home.

Pettigrew said buying the laptops would cost $357,000.

He also pointed out that a lease would allow an upgrade of computers.

“Three years from now, there may be something much, much better,” he said.

Pettigrew asked the board to approve buying the carts and devices, which he said may not be laptops. He said he may opt for a tablet with a keyboard or other device.

The board voted to approve buying 10 carts with 30 devices each at a total price not to exceed $230,000.

Pettigrew said pending the speed of the bidding process, the program could begin in February at the middle school. He said faculty have been planning for students to have the laptops, so they should agree with the February date.

“The vast majority of middle school teachers are prepared,” he said.

Board member Rita Dorsch, who is a retired Mars teacher, had a recommendation to help deal with future problems on the devices.

“I recommend that if this is rolled out for the second semester, that there’s a permanent technology person in the school all day,” Dorsch said.

Pettigrew said there would be a service technician available.