Schools can't afford to battle break-ins — can't afford not to

By Jennifer Hiller
Advertiser Education Writer

Andrew Aki, athletic director at the Myron B. Thompson Academy, holds a power supply adapter much like the ones thieves left behind when they stole nine laptops. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

Last weekend, nine laptop computers were stolen from the Myron B. Thompson Academy, the state's only e-charter school; last week, four computers were stolen from Ma'ili Elementary and in April, three computers worth $7,900 were taken from Kohala High School on the Big Island.

At the University of Hawai'i's Manoa campus, new computers worth $33,000 were stolen during the Fourth of July weekend from the Center of Hawaiian Studies. The UH Foundation's office recently has lost one desktop computer and two laptops. After bicycles, computers are the most-stolen property on campus, said Jim Manke, spokesman for the UH chancellor's office.

"There are people out there who prey on the schools, see them as easy targets and don't have any qualms about stealing from students," said Greg Knudsen, spokesman for the Department of Education.

But with an increasing amount of computer equipment on campuses, schools have a much higher value inventory than they've had in the past.

From August 2002 through June, $234,768 worth of items were stolen from public schools. Much of that value was in computers.

Linda Victor, principal at Ma'ili Elementary on O'ahu, said thieves used to take things such as television sets and fans from schools. Now, it's computers.

Because the state is self-insured, the cost of replacing those stolen computers eventually comes out of the state's budget.

Similarly, the University of Hawai'i is self-insured, meaning a direct loss to UH when there's a burglary.

Yesterday, Thompson Academy had locksmiths on campus installing better security locks. Officials plan to have an alarm system installed within days.

Vice Principal Elizabeth Blake is encouraging teachers at her school and others to back up their material. "I'm looking at my empty desk and I'm thinking, 'Gosh, if I had just burned a CD,' " Blake said. She and other teachers have lost everything from reports and student grades to lesson plans.

Blake said the school can't afford not to improve its security. An alarm system will alert her at home if there's another burglary.

At Kohala High School, Principal Catherine Bratt said the three computers stolen from her campus never were found. Like many schools, Kohala High has security during weekdays, but not on weekends.

"We just don't have the financial resources to do more than we have in the past," she said. "The police help out and come by campus."

Similarly, Ma'ili Elementary does not have security guards and must depend on alarms. With budget cuts this year, that security situation is unlikely to change.

The public-school system is being asked to reduce its budget by $12 million to $20 million this year as part of statewide cutbacks. Among the likely victims of the reduction is the entire $2 million

approved by the Legislature for expansion of the school safety and security manager program, which would have provided additional security help to some schools.

But Victor is taking encouragement from events at her campus this week. On Monday, someone anonymously returned the stolen desktop computer and one of the laptops to the school. And an anonymous donor has given the school four desktop computers.

Victor says she is crossing her "fingers and toes and everything else" in hopes that the other three laptop computers will be returned as well.

Staff writer Eloise Aguiar contributed to this report. Reach Jennifer Hiller at jhiller@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8084.