Laptops removed from Winston Salem classrooms after one catches fire
Thousands of Chromebook laptop computers are being taken out of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County (N.C.) school district after one of the machines began smoking in a classroom.
WGHP-TV reports that concern was sparked Wednesday morning when a Chromebook began smoking in a third-grade classroom at Lewisville Elementary School in Lewisville, N.C.. Students were in the room at the time.
The school was evacuated, and the smoldering device was put out.
No one was injured, but the school district is pulling about 20,000 computers from classrooms as a precaution.
Authorities are investigating what caused the computer to overheat, The Winston-Salem Journal reports. The laptop model is used by students across the district.
The Chromebooks, issued in 2015, were already scheduled to be replaced at the end of this year.
About 8,000 new Chromebooks will be put into schools this month.
About the Author
Mike Kennedy
Senior Editor
Mike Kennedy has been writing about education for American School & University since 1999. He also has reported on schools and other topics for The Chicago Tribune, The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Times and City News Bureau of Chicago. He is a graduate of Michigan State University.