Audit: NYC School Computers Going Unused Or Missing
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Thousands of computers are missing or unused at New York City schools, according to a new audit.
The audit by city Comptroller Scott Stringer found the Department of Education didn't know where 1,800 laptop and desktop computers it had purchased for 10 locations were.
It found nearly 400 other devices were never unpacked.
"It's an insult to families who are desperate to access technology for their children to leave brand new computers and tablets unused in boxes," Stringer told 1010 WINS.
The audit looked at eight schools in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens.
Stringer said the audit represents only a sample of sites and is concerned it's "just the tip of the iceberg.'' He plans to audit additional schools.
"Parents expect their kids to be ready for the 21st century and they want technology for their children," he said.
The audit also found 600 additional computers are missing from the Department of Education headquarters, CBS2's Ilana Gold reported.
Stringer wants the DOE to make a centralized inventory system, keeping track of all purchases and the computers locations.
"Perhaps there's an inventory control problem at the Department of Education," he said. "We must account for every single tablet, iPad, computer in the whole school system."
Auditors told Gold there is no indication anyone broke into the schools and stole the computers, so they really need to know what happened.
Stringer also wants every missing computer found.
"All we've asked is to see the computers," he said. "Just show us the computers."
Many parents want assurance something will be done.
"That's crazy," P.S. 152 parent Staci Miranda in Woodside, Queens, said. "I'm just dumbfounded with the news."
Miranda said she's been asking for a computer for her son, a second-grader who has hearing problems, for more than a year. She said the school claims she can't have one because of budget constraints.
"That's my tax money," said Queens parent Luis Perez.
Deputy schools Chancellor Kathleen Grimm told The Wall Street Journal the audit ignored some information provided by her staff.
She said sometimes equipment isn't put to immediate use because of insufficient Wi-Fi bandwidth and the need to train staff to use it.
The DOE said it will use the audit's recommendations and issued a statement saying, "We are committed to providing our city's school children technological resources that enables them to thrive in the classroom and identifying ways to catalog all equipment to ensure we are using all available resources to serve our students."
To see the full audit, click here.
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