Two grants acquired by the Panther Valley School District will fund a Chrome Book pilot program within its intermediate school, the school board decided Thursday.

One grant, from the Rural Education Achievement Program, provides just over $32,000 to the district, while the other, endowed through Title IV, gives it more than $16,000. Combined, the contributions will supply 228 laptops to be used by students in fourth, fifth and sixth grades.

The grants will also pay for 3-year Google licenses on all the computers, as well as 21 charging carts.

If successful, the program could roll out districtwide next year.

The district could use the upgrade, Panther Valley School District Superintendent Dennis Kergick said, as some of their current technology is “shot.”

“Trying to keep up with the technology is a nightmare,” Kergick said. “Things wear out.”

Laptops currently owned by the district that are still functional will be dispersed throughout the elementary and high schools.

Unlike some schools, not every classroom in the Panther Valley District is equiped with laptops and computers. And despite its high tax rate, the district is still one of the poorest in the county.

Just last June, the school board decided to raise taxes for Carbon, Coaldale and Schuylkill residents by about 6%.

“When you go through everything that we’re going to be spending, we have to increase our taxes,” Gary Porembo, board president, said in June. “I hope everybody goes for it, because if not, I don’t know what we will do.”