GEORGIA COMPUTER THEFT PROBLEMS IN SCHOOLSWelcome to NorthFulton.Com: News covering the North Fulton area including Alpharetta, Roswell, Johns Creek, and Forsyth.Thieves who have made off with hundreds of laptops and computers from area schools over the past several months are making teaching difficult — but not impossible — for schools as they step up vigilance to prevent further break-ins.
"It’s had an impact, but it’s something that has been manageable with creative scheduling and moving students around to utilize available computers,” said Susan Hale, spokeswoman for the Fulton County School System. "Classes may have to share computers so it’s been more of an inconvenience but the work is getting done.”
She noted even at the hardest hit schools, only a partial inventory of computers were stolen, leaving many computers for student and staff use.
The computer equipment is fully insured, and the school system is in the process of replacing the stolen items. Hale said it takes between two and four weeks to get the new equipment to the schools.
The thefts have been going on since June and have been reported at 23 schools in Fulton County – 17 of those in North Fulton schools. To date, more than $200,000 in computer equipment has been stolen, mainly laptop computers with some desktop computers as well.
A directive several weeks ago from the superintendent instructed teachers to take home their laptops each night. That directive appears to have had some impact.
At recent incidents at Dolvin Elementary and Haynes Bridge Middle School, windows were broken but little was taken.
"The only thing that was stolen was the volunteer computer and flat screen monitor,” said Haynes Bridge Principal Debbie Reeves. "We were just extremely lucky. The computer was replaced within the week and we did not need that computer for instruction.”
Reeves said all laptops are taken home each night, and the school has stepped up ground security.
"We’re taking a lot of precautions, making sure the blinds are closed every night, and even removing a couple of [desktop] computers on the weekends,” said Reeves.
At Dolvin Elementary, Principal Marie Shelton said her school was also very fortunate that an early October break-in netted the thieves nothing.
"It was an inconvenience when we came in one morning and found glass everywhere from four broken windows, but nothing was taken from the facility,” said Shelton.
It was obvious the thieves had entered four different classrooms, but were apparently looking for specific items, said Shelton.
Across town at Findley Oaks Elementary School, which has been hit twice this year by thieves, Principal Steven Curry said the impact was felt most with teachers who had come to rely on their computers as a large part of their teaching tool.
"We’ve become so reliant on our computers and use it for lesson planning, correspondence, communication, e-mail,” said Curry. "Losing that access interrupts their job flow so much.”
He noted attendance reports and test scores are all kept in a central location so there was no loss to student records. Curry said the thieves hit one wing of the school containing second- and third-grade classrooms, so the impact was not school-wide.
After the first break-in in September, Curry instituted new security measures that may have prevented any additional loss in the second break-in this month when the thieves took nothing.
He also worried about the psychological impact on the staff and students from the two break-ins, but he said the school has been resilient.
"We were able to assure everyone that these people are thieves,” said Curry. "They’re not nice folks but they’re after things, not people, and they come when there’s no one around.”
Still, the school made counselors available to anyone who needed to talk about the incidents. Broken glass was quickly cleaned up and the school operated as usual on the days following the two break-ins.
Curry said the students were aware of what had happened to their schools, noting it was important for them to hear the news from their parents or teachers than from outside the school.
"We sent a letter home to the parents so they could talk about it with their child,” said Curry. "The parents have been very understanding and supportive and have helped to make the kids feel comfortable and safe.”
No new break-ins have been reported since the week of Oct. 18, and Hale said varying levels of additional security have been implemented at the schools to prevent further thefts.
To date, the police have reported no leads in their search for suspects