Dillon District 3 gives computers to families

LATTA — Summer break began Wednesday afternoon in Latta, and many students went home with a gift from the school district.
For the fourth time in the past six years, Dillon School District 3 cycled out some of its old computers to make room for new ones.
Superintendent John Kirby said the program started in 2002 when district officials decided to donate the computers to families that couldn’t afford to buy one, rather than throwing them away.
The computers went to elementary students in the past, and this year it was Latta Middle School’s turn, particularly the sixth-graders. Regardless of which grade level is targeted, many of the computers get used by more than one child in the family that receives them.
“What we’re finding is that the whole family is using them,” Kirby said. “So just because it might be a middle school kid, there’s a third-grader or a 10th-grader that also will use some of this stuff.”
Robert McIntyre, the district’s director of technology, said 25 computers were expected to be picked up at the district’s office by Wednesday afternoon with about 75 more going out to families by August.
McIntyre, along with the help of six high school members of the Interact Club, refurbished the computers and installed licensed educational software on them before giving them out.
McIntyre said the club members were glad to take part in the project.
“They thoroughly enjoyed it,” McIntyre said. “I don’t know if it’s more wanting to learn how to do it, or if it’s more of wanting to help, but they were enthusiastic about it.”
Also enthusiastic about it was Latta Middle School Principal Martha Heyward, who called parents to let them know their family would receive a computer.
“(The parents) were just excited over the fact that we were giving them an opportunity to get a computer in their home,” Heyward said. “Some stated that the children had been asking (for one), but they simply could not afford it.”
Heyward said after surveying 105 sixth-graders, she found out 22.9 percent of them didn’t have a computer at home. She said there are enough computers this year to give one to all rising seventh-graders who don’t already have one, as well as some students going into eighth grade.
Twelve-year-old River Owens picked up his newly-refurbished computer Wednesday. Owens’ mother, Shannon Lovett, received the news while her son was at baseball practice Tuesday.
“It means a lot to me,” Lovett said. “I’m a single parent, and this will really help me out.
“It says a lot, and it shows that they really care about the students and their families.”
With most of the district’s students receiving free or reduced lunch, Kirby called Latta an “area where income is limited.” He said students aren’t charged any fees during the school year and that the district does what it can to help struggling families.
“It’s just another example of us trying to help our community when we know they have limited means,” Kirby said. “When you say it’s a free and appropriate education, we try and offer that.”