Computer club helps school children during coronavirus closure

More than 100 desktops, laptops help students with distant learning

By Matthew Nash • June 3, 2020 1:30 am
With refurbished computers donated by the Sequim PC Users Group, Sequim School District’s IT staff, from left, Director Beau Young, Richard Seiler, Scott Harmsen and Maria Seabolt helped distribute more than 100 computers for families without the technology in their homes to participate in distance learning for grades 6-12. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash
With refurbished computers donated by the Sequim PC Users Group, Sequim School District’s IT staff, from left, Director Beau Young, Richard Seiler, Scott Harmsen and Maria Seabolt helped distribute more than 100 computers for families without the technology in their homes to participate in distance learning for grades 6-12. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

As uncertainty loomed for some Sequim households about education and school buildings closing in March because of to the COVID-19 pandemic, local information technology experts with the Sequim School District and the Sequim PC Users Group united to help families make distance learning a reality.

In April, Sequim School District officials picked up 90 desktop and laptop computers from the PC Users Group for Sequim students to use.

James Hurley, the club’s vice-president, said some of the computers were surplus from the school district provided last year that club members refurbished with Windows 10 or Linux.

Richard Seiler with Sequim School District’s IT staff preps laptops and docking stations to go into about 170 classrooms across the district for teachers to use next school year. This project follows IT staff’s efforts to distribute more than 100 computers to students without computers. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Richard Seiler with Sequim School District’s IT staff preps laptops and docking stations to go into about 170 classrooms across the district for teachers to use next school year. This project follows IT staff’s efforts to distribute more than 100 computers to students without computers. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Sequim School District assistant superintendent Jennifer Maughan said teachers, principals and school staffers for grades 6-12 sent in requests for computers to help families they knew to be without computers to access the Internet to do some assignments and participate in classes.

As of this week, Sequim Schools’ IT staff provided 109 computers for families with some still available.

“We are here to help,” Maughan said. “We have more and will provide any families that request them (in grades 6-12).”

To request a computer for a Sequim School District child in grades 6-12, call Sequim School District at 360-582-3260 and leave a message for Maughan, or email to jmaughan@sequimschools.org or distancelearning@sequimschools.org.

Requests will continue to be taken through the summer.

Next steps

Sequim students in kindergarten-grade 5 were assigned paper packets during the closure, Maughan said, so computer requests remain for grades 6-12.

She said families without access to the internet were prioritized for laptops so they could go to a Wi-Fi spot near their homes.

Computers remain available through the summer for Sequim students in grades 6-12 to request to keep. A joint effort between the Sequim PC Users Group and Sequim School District helped bring computers to more than 100 families in recent months. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Computers remain available through the summer for Sequim students in grades 6-12 to request to keep. A joint effort between the Sequim PC Users Group and Sequim School District helped bring computers to more than 100 families in recent months. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Sequim Schools’ technology plans for the fall and 2020-2021 school year remain tentative, Maughan said, as they await recommendations and guidelines from Gov. Jay Inslee and state schools superintendent Chris Reykdal later this month.

School officials said they’ll have a work group help form plans for the fall. Beau Young, the Sequim School District’s IT director, said he and his staff are “trying to get the district in a position for the most probable scenario for next year.”

Maughan said it’s been great to connect with families and she’s appreciated the opportunity to help with other concerns, if needed.

Continued partnership

Sequim School District has partnered with the PC Users Group for many years with much of the district’s surplus equipment going to the club to upgrade and refurbish for community groups, said Maria Seabolt, a school district IT staffer.

Hurley said in the last five years, the club, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit has donated more than 800 refurbished computers that they’ve recycled for people/groups that lack sufficient funds for a new one.

Volunteer PC enthusiasts from elementary-aged children to retired IT professionals inspect, repair and install new operating systems and software for the club.

Young said the group is a safe way to recycle computers because they clean sweep everything and they can use pieces from computers that do or do not work.

“I’m really impressed with the tech team that makes all of this happen for so many,” said Tom LaMure, the club’s president emeritus.

He said the club is back to reconstructing computers for community members using safety protocols related to COVID-19.

Some of the recently donated school computers were older but can still access the Internet to help students and use the software program Libre Office to do assignments, he said.

For more information on the Sequim PC Users Group, email to spcug1@gmail.com or visit spcug.net.