NEW RICHLAND — This small school district north of Albert Lea will soon be home to some new technology in the form of iPads and Smart Boards.

The New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva school board approved technology spending at the July 18 meeting. Superintendent Kevin Wellen said the school is always looking to update technology.

“There’s always a need to get current with technology,” Wellen said. “We’re looking at some unique things.”

In the 2010-11 school year the district got 22 Smart Boards from an unexpected energy rebate and with the help of donations. Now the district hopes to buy two classroom sets of iPads, a total of 60, for a cost of about $30,000. Wellen said the district has applied for one grant and will apply for another later this year to help offset those costs. The district is also looking at acquiring more Smart Boards and wireless Internet in the schools.

“If we’re looking to add iPads to some classrooms to do that we’ll need wireless access in both buildings,” Wellen said.

The district is also moving toward buying laptops for teachers when computers need to be replaced for more portability and having wireless Internet access would help these teachers when they attend meetings at either school.

“I think it’s a great opportunity,” Wellen said.

He said he was thankful for the community and the parent-teacher organization for their help with acquiring some of the new technology. He said the district meets with other districts in the area to talk about new technology, and discussion centers around new technologies and how it can help supplement learning.