All highschool laptops recalled from RCS following “explosions”

HAMLET — Richmond County Colleges recollected all take-home laptops from highschool college students on Tuesday after ten gadgets have overheated and “exploded” sporadically throughout the previous few months.

“What occurs is the battery begins to overheat and swell contained in the gadget,” mentioned Superintendent Dr. Joe Ferrell. “I hate to make use of the time period explodes, nevertheless it sort of explodes inside and typically will break by way of the plastic. It’s kind of extra melting out.”

Ferrell mentioned in a single incident {that a} scholar’s clothes was impacted by the melting, and that one scholar’s mattress masking was broken at residence. Just a few of the “explosions” have taken place in lockers. This has solely occurred to HP laptops at Richmond Senior Excessive Faculty that college students take residence with them, however gadgets from the opposite excessive colleges have nonetheless been recalled.

“The corporate [Hewlett Packard] believes that it’s associated to the gadget not being shut down correctly,” Ferrell mentioned, including {that a} consultant has come to examine the gadgets.

All gadgets had been collected Tuesday afternoon and there aren’t any plans to return any of those laptops to college students sooner or later. It’s been decided that a lot of the affected gadgets had been about 5 years previous. It’s not clear why this has solely occurred to laptops at RSHS, however computer systems which can be stationed contained in the constructing is not going to be recalled.

“Fortunately, 6-8 EOGs are earlier than 9-12 EOCS [end of course testing], so they are going to be capable to use the identical gadgets,” shared government director of curriculum and instruction Dr. Kate Smith. There will probably be no modifications or influence on finish of yr testing as a result of recall.

In an electronic mail to central workplace employees, Principal Jim Butler mentioned that the recollection of all gadgets went easily and division heads are engaged on plans to organize packets and evaluate supplies for testing.