Last summer, Maine signed off on a $41 million contract with Apple Computer Corp. to provide new laptop computers to more than 30,000 seventh- and eighth-graders and their teachers, extending the program originally started by former Gov. Angus King in 2002, near the end of his second term.

Maine was the first state to equip students statewide with laptops.

All told, Apple will equip 32,000 students and 4,000 teachers with iBook notebook computers and upgraded wireless networks. The four-year contract also will include warranties and perks like professional development for each of Maine’s 241 public middle schools.

The older laptops are being kept, not discarded. The older computers are being upgraded with fundraising support from King. They will be redeployed in other grades and for other purposes. According to Education Commissioner Susan Gendron, there are now about 70,000 laptops in Maine schools.

The Apple deal works out to about $289 per laptop.