TEWKSBURY – It’s hard to believe that someone would be cruel, greedy, or thoughtless enough to steal 15 laptops from a school that is already in a financial struggle to provide the best possible education for its students, but that is exactly what happened at Tewksbury Memorial High School this summer.
“It's hard to explain how disgusted and discouraged I am by this,” said School Committee Chairman Keith Rauseo who explained, “This is a theft not just from the students of Tewksbury, but from all the taxpayers of Tewksbury who agreed to a property tax increase to address issues with the high school facility and the technology available to our students.”
At the start of the summer there were two mobile labs that were inventoried, padlocked, and placed in a locked room off of the library inside the high school. The mobile labs are cabinets on wheels that store computer equipment and allow it to be moved easily from classroom to classroom or to locked storage as needed.
During the summer, the contents of the locked room were moved out into a hallway in order to empty the room while it was being painted. It is unknown how long the mobile labs were out in the hallway, but when High School Principal Patricia Lally found them there, she had them moved immediately to a locked room inside of her office.
After the start of this school year, Assistant Principal Eileen Osborne inventoried the contents of both cases and discovered that the bottom shelves of both units had been emptied for a combined total theft of 15 laptops and 14 power supplies.
At the time of Osborne’s inventory, it was discovered that the padlocks were missing from both units; however, Superintendent Christine McGrath said they do not know at what point the locks were removed.
McGrath notified the Tewksbury Police Department late last week and detectives are investigating. The camera system inside of the high school was replaced this summer and all available video is being diligently scrutinized for any evidence that may assist in the investigation.
This incident brings forth many questions about security procedures in the School District. Rauseo said that if putting things under lock and key isn't enough; “we might have to install second and third levels of security and higher-level and more consistent monitoring systems. Of course, security comes with a cost, and any new costs will take away from something educational we're trying to do, so we may have to do a balancing act to find money for this if necessary.”
Rauseo went on to propose that he “would like the town to find an independent security expert, someone who doesn't already work for the town, has no preconceived notions of how things are done, and can speak freely and frankly, to come in and do a security audit of all of the town's public buildings. There may be some glaring issues that we must address, and/or there may be issues we can address in a quick, easy, and cheap fashion that might have a great return in terms of increased security.”
Dr. McGrath said the laptops (valued at roughly $18,000) would be replaced if they are not found, because they are “an invaluable learning resource for our students.” The laptops are insured, according to Business Manager Jack Quinn, but there is a $2500 deductible.
Superintendent McGrath emphasized that she would be “most grateful for any information leading to the return of the laptops so that we can return them to the classes.” She asks that anyone with information please contact the Tewksbury Police Department as soon as possible.
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