The Savannah Chatham County Public School District is missing nearly $400,000 in lost, stolen and damaged learning devices. iPads and Chromebooks were issued to students to help them learn virtually during the pandemic. David Feliciano, director of strategy and performance for SCCPPS, said students needed them when the pandemic hit. “We had to go remote. We had to move to online learning and students needed devices,” Feliciano said. Approximately 33,000 devices were issued in 2021. According to an open records request, WJCL 22 News found that most of the devices were returned, except for about 1,500 or the 3% considered lost, stolen, or damaged According to the district, those lost, stolen, or damaged devices cost nearly $400,00. “$400,000 is considered a lot. Any amount is considered a lot. We don’t want to lose devices. So we’re working on the best way to get those devices back,” Feliciano said. Feliciano said the devices are recorded with the district’s information. If anyone other than the student tries to turn on the device, they’ll find it locked, with a logo Feliciano said local pawn shops have been warned not to buy them or use them as collateral for a loan, but calls have come in from outside of Chatham County. “Adamant that it’s one of our devices, we turned it over to campus police to go after. I think it’s important for the community to understand that these devices are for our students, they’re not to be bought or sold,” Feliciano said. “We want them back. It’s important that they get back because we can’t take a loss like this every year,” Feliciano said. parents to purchase a device protection plan for $25. Pay the replacement cost.
The Savannah Chatham County Public School District is missing nearly $400,000 in lost, stolen and damaged learning devices. iPads and Chromebooks were issued to students to help them learn virtually during the pandemic.
David Feliciano, director of strategy and performance for SCCPPS, said students needed them when the pandemic hit.
“We had to go remote. We had to go to online learning and students needed devices,” Feliciano said.
Approximately 33,000 devices were issued in 2021. Based on an open records request, WJCL 22 News found that most devices were returned, except for about 1,500 or 3% deemed lost, stolen, or damaged. According to the district, those lost, stolen or damaged devices cost nearly $400.00.
“$400,000 is considered a lot. Any amount is considered a lot. We don’t want to lose devices. Therefore, we are working on the best way to recover those devices,” said Feliciano.
Feliciano said the devices are recorded with the district’s information. If someone other than the student tries to turn on the device, the student will find it locked and an SCCPSS logo will appear on the screen.
Feliciano said local pawn shops have been warned not to buy them or use them as collateral for a loan, but calls have come in from outside Chatham County.
“They have contacted us that they wanted us to deactivate the device. Once we confirm that it is one of our devices, we turn it over to campus police to pursue. I think it’s important for the community to understand that these devices are for our students, not for sale or purchase,” Feliciano said.
The district expects the number of lost devices to decrease as some students who kept them over the summer will return them.
“We want them back. It is important that they be returned because we cannot bear a loss like this every year,” Feliciano said.
The district encourages parents to purchase a device protection plan for $25. Pay the replacement cost.