Rather than putting a computer in every classroom, school administrators are planning to put a computer in the hands of every student enrolled at the new high school.

“One of the things we’ve been doing is trying to research what are going to be the best practices to prepare kids for the world around then when they get out of high school,” Assistant Superintendent Roxanne Wilson said. “We’ve done the research that says we need to have kids technologically adept to compete in the world market.”

A new program embraced by the superintendent’s office, one-to- one computing, should put a personal laptop computer in the hands of every student who steps foot into the new school building after it opens next fall, making Windham one of the first public school systems in New Hampshire to bring 21st-century skills into the curriculum, according to Wilson.

Students will have the laptops with them throughout the day, but will be able take them home after the school day ends for homework and research use. Wilson said that allowing the students to use the equipment both at school and at home will infuse the technological aspect of the Internet age into their everyday learning and help them improve their critical thinking and problem- solving skills.

“We want to make sure that we have the opportunity to give our kids the upper edge on technology and preparing them for that route,” she said.

According to the high school’s technology director, Terry Bullard, implementing the plan has come at a perfect time with the construction of the new school in Windham. Rather than retrofitting the building or the curriculum for the one-to-one computing program, administrators have the opportunity to configure both the school and their future teachers around the student laptops.

“One of the reasons this is the right time to do this for Windham is that we’re able to incorporate the proper infrastructure to do this as well as the staffing to develop the proper curriculum,” Bullard said. “ It’s a unique opportunity to start fresh.”

The school will be equipped with a wireless Internet signal for students and educators to use throughout the day, as the laptops replace the need for individual computer labs. The school is also bringing on board a technical staff to maintain a “help desk” for students experiencing problems with their computers.

While the details on the program have not been worked out – both the total cost of the laptops and the specific computer model to be used have yet to be determined – Wilson said that by giving out individual laptops to students saved the school money in the short term, though that cost would increase as the school body expanded to include not only the freshmen and sophomore classes, but juniors and seniors as well.

Wilson got the go-ahead to begin the program with a unanimous vote from the School Board on Oct. 21. Board Chairman Barbara Coish said the research Bullard and Wilson had done on the program had convinced her that it would be the right move for Windham’s high school students.

“Hopefully, it turns out to be as exciting as it sounds to be and it benefits the students more than just books, books, books,” she said. “I would imagine that would instill some responsibility in the students. They know they have to take care of this equipment.”