City school computers remained unused in warehouse

Credit: LINDY KEAST RODMAN/TIMES-DISPATCH

The city of Richmond school system gave a tour of its computer storage and technician area earlier this year.

By: Will Jones | Times-Dispatch
Published: October 25, 2010

Despite claims to the contrary, officials with Richmond Public Schools did not install many of the 500 new computers that were found sitting in the system’s warehouse in March, according to a follow-up review by the city auditor.

Acting on a tip, investigators found 211 of the 500 computers still in the warehouse on Oct. 8, City Auditor Umesh V. Dalal said in an Oct. 22 letter to Superintendent Yvonne W. Brandon. Nearly all of the computers were purchased in 2009, and they now have limited value given their age and technological limitations, he said.

In a response to Dalal, Brandon said she’s “disappointed that our process still appears to be flawed.” She promised a review and disciplinary action if any negligence is found.

“I will not tolerate failure in this process and I am committed to ensuring that technological resources get into the hands of our students as soon as possible,” she said.

Audit investigators discovered the 500 computers in March, noting that they had sat in the warehouse for months and, in some cases, years. After the findings were reported in May, Brandon said, “there’s no excuse for this technology to sit in the warehouse.”

At the time, school officials said the computers had been installed and were being used by middle school students taking Standards of Learning tests.

Brandon is scheduled to discuss the auditor’s latest report with City Council this afternoon.