TENNESSEE COMPUTER MISSING http://www.dnj.com/article/20120516/NEWS/305160041/Chancellor-County-did-its-best-find-Campus-principal-s-computer

12:54 PM, May. 16, 2012 

Chancellor: County did its best to find Campus principal's computer

MURFREESBORO — Chancellor Robert Corlew ruled today that Rutherford County Schools has done all it could to produce information from a computer Campus School Principal Chontel Bridgeman lost during a conference at Vanderbilt two years ago.

The chancellor said he was shocked that Bridgeman did not report the missing $1,600 computer until six or seven months later, especially since it could have contained confidential information about children. But he noted that the “trail was cold” by the time county schools officials found out they needed the computer to obtain information for an open records request by Dr. Tracy Pack.

Corlew said he did not find that the school made any effort “to thwart” Pack’s request for open records in regard to the laptop computer.

Pack, whose son previously attended Homer Pittard Campus School, has been attempting to seek the records from the Rutherford County Board of Education since 2010. Corlew previously determined that computer hard drives Bridgeman used will be provided under seal and that the court will allow a computer expert to use a set of search terms and keyword to be determined by Pack and his attorney. Anything that matches will be printed and presented to the court to determine what files will be reproduced.

Bridgeman testified today that she notified the Campus School PTC president about leaving the laptop computer at Vanderbilt and also told the school’s technology specialist. She said she called the Wyatt Center at Vanderbilt to see if it had been turned in. But she said she did not report the missing or “stolen” computer to the county school system, ask any of her teachers if they had seen it or call any law enforcement agency to report the missing computer.

Pack’s attorney, Ted Goodman, introduced several school system policies suggesting that Bridgeman should have notified the school system within 48 hours and possibly sought a law enforcement investigation. Goodman pointed out that even after it found out the computer was missing, the school system did not call authorities or ask for an investigation.

Reed also acknowledged that Bridgeman was “irresponsible” in failing to notify the central office and in losing the computer. But he argued that no matter whether the computer was “lost” or “stolen,” it was missing.

Reed said he was not aware whether the school system reprimanded Bridgeman for losing the computer.

Goodman declined comment after the hearing when asked if he believed Bridgeman got rid of the computer instead of losing it. He advised Pack not to respond to the question.