COLUMBIA, S.C. — Nearly a month into the new school year, many students in Richland School District One are still waiting for their laptops, leaving parents concerned and school leaders facing mounting questions.
The district admitted the shortage stems from a delay in ordering, affecting both middle and high school students who were promised personal laptops on the first day of classes.
District Leaders Respond
Superintendent Todd Walker addressed the issue during a recent school board meeting, acknowledging the frustration and pledging solutions.
“Due to a delay in ordering, most of our middle schools and high schools are experiencing some level of shortage of laptops for students,” Walker said. “I want to say to our students and our parents, and this is the headline, that we can and we will do better. I also want to recognize that our students need laptops, and no student will be penalized for not having a laptop to do their school assignments while we are experiencing this delay.”…