Computer classes at Lupelele Elementary suspended due to lack of keyboards

Computer classes at Lupelele Elementary School in Iliili are currently suspended as the keyboards for most of their desktop computers are no longer functioning. This has prompted Tualauta Rep. Larry Sanitoa to write a letter to the Supervisor/ Senior Technician of Computer World, Jeriecho Martinez, who will forward the request to the company CEO, requesting the donation of any old/unused keyboards from the company.
 
Last week, Bluesky Communications generously donated five keyboards, meaning the school only needs 15 more keyboards to get their computer classes up and running again.
 
Lupelele Elementary School Principal Avasa Galoia informed Sanitoa that the 20 keyboards are for the 20 flat-screen computers currently in the computer lab. Galoia says he spoke to someone in the IT division of the E-Rate Program and was told by representatives of the DOE E-Rate that there are no more keyboards in their warehouse.
 
The flat screen computers were never taken out of the boxes and according to Galoia, the batteries were ruined and there was also a lot of heat damage.
 
Help has been sought from the school’s Parent/Teacher Association (PTA).
 
In addition to the lack of computer keyboards, the PTA is also requesting water coolers for the school children. Galoia reports that currently, there is only one water cooler provided by school lunch and it is located inside the cafeteria.
 
However, the cooks are dismissed at 1:30 p.m. everyday and the cafeteria is closed at the same time, meaning the kids do not have access to the water cooler anytime after 1:30 p.m.