Atchison ? Students in Atchison Public Schools are getting iPads.

School board members agreed this past week to provide each student and teacher at the high school and alternative school with one of the tablet computers. The St. Joseph News-Press reported that the iPads can be used in school and at home.

Board president Tim Newkirk says the move is the culmination of five or six years’ worth of work.

The district is freeing up money to buy the first 280 iPads by extending the leases on some of its laptops. The district will be able to use next year’s technology funds to purchase the remaining 80 iPads.

The district says it will still update the elementary school technology labs as scheduled.