New computers meant for Richmond’s public school students sat in a city warehouse for several months — and in some cases several years — before being installed in schools, according to a city auditor’s report released this week.
Of the 500 computers discovered in boxes at the school division’s Parker Field warehouse, seven were purchased in 2006 and three in 2007. The rest were purchased in March and September 2009, the report said. The computers were valued at $338,500.
Richmond Auditor Umesh Dalal said the investigation started with an anonymous tip to city’s fraud hot line three to four weeks ago.
Richmond Public Schools officials bought the computers using state funding that is provided to help school divisions upgrade their technological infrastructure, particularly for online Standards of Learning testing.
Richmond’s technology plan shows that the installation of the computers started in March of this year — several years after some of them were purchased.
“Procuring computers and not installing them results in depriving opportunities to RPS pupils,” said the report from Dalal’s office. The report also said “storing computers in the warehouse for an extended period may compromise their value. Similarly, computers purchased in 2006 and 2007 may have, or soon become, outdated.”
The report suggested that Richmond school officials come up with a procurement plan that allows for installation soon after purchases are made.
This week’s report follows a 2007 audit that revealed the city school district had a lack of adequate technology resources and that city students were at a competitive disadvantage with students in neighboring school divisions because of it.
Schools spokeswoman Felicia Cosby said today that all of the computers cited in this week’s audit report have been installed in schools. She said the division has a technology plan, which was provided to the city auditor’s office. She said the division follows that plan from purchase to installation and that it can take some time between both phases.
When computers are bought, “we have to go through a strict asset management program” before they’re installed, she said.
Kavansa Gardner, manager of Information Communication and Technology Services for city schools, said the school system routinely keeps older computers as spares in case the ones that are used in the schools break down.
Del. G. Manoli Loupassi, R-Richmond, said at least on the surface, the situation appears to be “an absurd waste of taxpayer dollars” and likened it to getting a shipment of books and not using them.
“It is absolutely the case when you receive money from the public that you do it in the most careful way,” he said yesterday. “It’s a complete breach of the public trust.”
School Board Chairwoman Kimberly Bridges said 2,200 computers were installed this school year — including the 500 in the report — as part of the division’s long-term technology plan to have one computer for every three students. The state average is one computer for every five students.
“It’s a rolling process of installation,” she said, adding that the division’s technology plan will be on the agenda at Monday night’s School Board meeting.
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