Goshen students run high‑school IT help desk that cut repair backlog and expanded career pathways

Goshen High School students who staff a school-run IT help desk have repaired more than 120 devices and reduced a district repair backlog from about 83 Chromebooks to six, the program’s teacher told the Board of Education on Oct. 13.

Principal Stephanie Walker presented the students and framed the work as part of the district’s college‑and‑career readiness goals. “A diploma is not our endgame,” Walker said, describing the program as one of several efforts to ensure students leave with a plan and job‑ready skills.

Garrett Walt, Goshen High’s IT teacher, described how the help‑desk pilot grew into a regular program that runs during first and seventh bells. “The devices that we were not able to repair here that need to be sent out, we cut down from 83 to 6,” Walt told the board, saying students performed more than 120 repairs and handled loaner devices and classroom installs.

Walt said the program combines hands‑on repairs (screen swaps, battery reseats and diagnostics) with dual‑credit coursework offered through the University of Cincinnati and work‑based learning partnerships. He credited a Columbus nonprofit known as PAST with a grant and planning support for the initial pilot and said Interalliance — a workforce partner — is expected to reimburse student wages so the district can compensate participating students in second semester without raising district payroll costs.

Principal Walker and Walt emphasized both student benefits and district savings. Walt told the board the faster turnaround reduces the time students spend without devices, and saves money compared with sending devices out to vendors for weeks at a time. Board members estimated the program has already produced thousands of dollars in avoided vendor costs.

Students who spoke about the program said it gave them practical skills and helped clarify post‑high‑school plans. Student Sarah Healy said the role “helped me to work more with people” and to handle teacher requests for projects such as senior banners and sticker printing. Several others said the experience confirmed interest in IT careers or college programs.

District and school staff outlined next steps: expand the number of student technicians, create clearer processes for moving devices between buildings, add professional‑development and resume support through the college‑and‑career office, and begin compensating students through Interalliance reimbursement in the second semester. Walt said the compensation would be paid from Interalliance funds and therefore “doesn’t actually cost us a dime.”

The board praised the students and staff; Superintendent Bill Bailey said the program reduces lost instructional time by enabling faster device repairs and local troubleshooting. Board members requested ongoing metrics on repairs completed, turnaround time and any vendor costs avoided so the district can track savings and growth.

Program proponents also flagged curriculum expansion: Walt said the district will add a cybersecurity elective next semester and that University of Cincinnati has added a corresponding dual‑credit intro course, allowing students to earn college credit in cybersecurity in coming years.

The board did not take formal action on the program at the Oct. 13 meeting; staff said implementation decisions (schedules, paid hours and expansion) will be managed within existing administrative authority and brought back to the board as needed.