MICHIGAN COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL31 middle school laptops stolen31 middle school laptops stolen
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
By Dave Murray
The Grand Rapids Press
GRAND RAPIDS -- Security improvements are planned for laptops in Grand Rapids Public Schools after thieves walked off with a cart containing 31 computers and other equipment from Harrison Park Middle School.

The computers were stolen sometime between the end of school on Sept. 23 and when workers returned the following Monday.

They were purchased last year through the state's Freedom to Learn program and are used by sixth-graders.

The district last year spent $2.2 million -- mostly federal and state grant money -- to purchase 2,000 Hewlett Packard laptops and accessories as well as train teachers to integrate the computers into lessons.

The Board of Education this week approved spending $29,277 to replace the computers, though administrators expect to be reimbursed through their insurance company.

Larry Johnson, the district's public safety director, said there was no sign of forced entry into the school, and his staff and police are investigating how the theft occurred.

Johnson said it is possible someone slipped into the building through an open window but can't rule out employee involvement.

He said 30 laptops were stored on a cart that recharged the units and also held extra batteries. Another unit was taken from the school's media center. No personal information pertaining to students or staff was stored on the computers.

The theft has prompted a review of security measures for laptops.

"We thought we had a pretty good system in place already," Johnson. "But apparently, we're going to have to make some changes."

He said police are checking to see if any of the units surface in area pawn shops.

Board of Education President Amy McGlynn said some board members, when discussing the laptop distribution last year, implied students could steal them.

"These were not our children, who some of our board members said couldn't be trusted with such equipment," she said. "This was obviously the work of grown-ups who knew exactly what they were doing and what they were after."