Virtual Learning Increases Need For Overton Schools Laptop Repairs

Overton County Schools are seeing an unattended consequence to virtual learning with IT staff shortages to repair laptops.

Director of Schools Mark Winningham said when having a set budget for the school year, it is not possible to add an employee to catch up on tech work.

“[Repairs] are not an uncommon thing. It is just the number of devices that you have in a district,” Winningham said. “When you have nearly 3,000 devices in a district, and you only have three people in your IT department, you may have that issue. Where you have more devices you need repaired then you have people to do it.”

Board of Education Member Mitch Stonecipher brought the issue to attention during November’s meeting. Winningham said the only fix for now is to replace older laptops. The school system expects to have these devices replaced with a shipment of laptops coming January.

“Obviously with the number of students that we have that have devices now, that number increases,” Winningham said. “With students that might not have taken them home in the past that are taking them home now, you might have more issues. We do have some older devices in the district. Obviously, as they get older you are going to have more repairs.”