Beaufort County technology committee outlines stakeholder surveys after device-repair and loss data review

The Beaufort County School District Technology Committee on Sept. 17 reviewed a staff report on device repairs and losses and agreed to develop brief, targeted surveys for students, staff, parents and the broader community to guide short- and medium-term technology planning.

Committee members discussed detailed repair data that showed uneven device maintenance needs across schools and heard districtwide counts of lost and stolen devices for the 2024–25 school year. Committee members then debated survey scope, distribution and timing, and agreed to produce short, tailored questionnaires and aim to post a final survey in early November for a roughly two-week response window.

The committee chair summarized the meeting after discussion and said she planned to finalize a draft schedule: "I could post it on Monday, November 3," she said, proposing a two-week response period timed to reach school improvement councils and parent groups.

Why it matters: The committee framed the survey as input for strategic planning ahead of budget discussions. Members said short, targeted instruments—one each for staff, students, parents and community members—would yield more actionable results than a single catchall survey. Several members also stressed the need to define terms such as "screen time" and to ensure broad community participation so results are representative.

Key facts and figures - Device loss/theft (districtwide, school year 2024–25): "The total number of laptops lost was 75. The total number of iPads lost was 7. The total number of laptops stolen was 12 for the year, and there was 8 hot spots lost during the whole school year," according to staff reporting these counts to the committee. - Repair trends: staff presented repair breakdowns by school and category, noting some schools and device types show notably higher repair rates (for example, a staff member described a green line on the chart indicating roughly 10% of a high school's laptop power cords needed repair). - Device form factor: several committee members raised concerns that 2‑in‑1 convertible laptops may be associated with higher screen‑damage rates; members discussed whether that affects procurement choices.

Discussion highlights - Survey design and scope: Staff proposed four surveys (students, staff, parents, community) with short, roughly 10‑question instruments tailored to each group’s use of technology. Committee members generally supported tailored surveys to capture distinct stakeholder perspectives and recommended keeping them brief to maximize response rates. - Distribution and outreach: Members proposed using Google Classroom for students, the staff newsletter for employees, and school improvement council (SIC) email lists plus a website posting to reach parents and the community. Committee members noted typical survey response rates are often low and recommended additional outreach and promotion. - Timing: Several members urged care rather than speed; others stressed that early results could inform budget discussions. The committee set a goal to produce a rough draft by the next committee meeting in mid‑October (the group agreed to target Oct. 13) and to post the survey in early November for two weeks. - Screen time and definitions: Members flagged the need to define "screen time" for respondents because the educational value of screen use varies by content (for example, an instructional YouTube video versus non‑instructional browsing). The committee proposed placing a separate discussion of screen time on a future meeting agenda. - Esports and related technology needs: A committee member requested an update on district esports programs. Staff reported grant funds and district purchases have provided gaming machines and devices to several high schools and said they would provide a detailed rollout/status update at a future meeting.

Quotes from the meeting - On losses and thefts, staff: "The total number of laptops lost was 75. The total number of iPads lost was 7. The total number of laptops stolen was 12 for the year, and there was 8 hot spots lost during the whole school year." (Mister Shohan, staff) - On pacing the rollout: "I really don't see a need to have an emergency push out on this. I think we should take [time]." (Mister Smith, board member) - On timing the posting: "I could post it on Monday, November 3." (Chair, Beaufort County School District Technology Committee)

Decisions and next steps - The committee directed staff to prepare draft survey instruments for four stakeholder groups (students, staff, parents, community) and to circulate draft questions by email to committee and board members for feedback before the next meeting in mid‑October. - Staff will aim to finalize the survey and post it in early November, with an initial two‑week response period and targeted outreach to SIC chairs and local partners (including technology‑sector contacts) to boost participation. - Staff committed to return with a fuller lost/stolen device report and an esports status update at a future meeting.

Ending note: Committee members emphasized clarity in survey language, short question sets, and careful outreach to avoid biased samples and to ensure results will inform technology priorities and upcoming budget discussions.