U.S. General Services Administration
Atlanta area students benefit from surplus federal computers
Students returning to school in the Atlanta area this month will benefit from two separate transfers facilitated by GSA’s Southeast Great Lakes Personal Property Management Division (SEGLPPM). The recipients of the computers were Tri-Cities High School and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Tri-Cities High School
Earlier this year, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reached out to GSA to let them know that the agency had 90 new laptops that it would not be using. “We contacted Atlanta Public Schools to find a school in need,” said Kenya Crosson, Region 4 CFL coordinator.
Through this search, Crosson was connected with Tri-Cities High School, a Fulton County public school located in East Point, just south of Atlanta. “This school was planning to offer a summer program and they didn’t have adequate computers for it,” she said. “So, this was truly perfect timing.”
Crosson said that after identifying the school, she let TSA know they had found a school and facilitated the transfer. “I was able to assist TSA in arranging the transfer of 90 Acer laptops to Tri-Cities High School,” she explained. “The laptops had an original acquisition cost of about $16,000.”
This transfer was achieved through the Computers for Learning (CFL) program. The CFL program was established in 1996 by former President Clinton under Executive Order 12999, Educational Technology: Ensuring Opportunity for all Children in the Next Century. The order allows federal agencies to transfer excess computers to schools and non-profit educational organizations.
Housing Authority for the City of Atlanta
In anticipation of the new school year and in keeping with the Biden Administration's effort to advance equity, SEGLPPM transferred 60 laptops to HUD, the Parent Agency of the Atlanta Housing Authority (AH).
The laptops were designated excess personal property and eligible for direct transfer.
Crosson contacted GSA IT and secured 60 Dell laptops to transfer to HUD. Once the laptops were secured, she coordinated with Lisa Moghazy, the Area Property Officer for the State of Georgia, to conduct a direct transfer. The original cost of the laptops was about $39,000.
According to Dr. Howard W. Grant, Senior Vice President for Governmental/External Affairs and Human development at AH, the laptops were distributed to residents of several AH communities around Atlanta.
- Ten students from Westminster Apartments and ten students from Martin Street Apartments received laptops during their communities’ back-to-school bash events in August.
- Twenty families from the Bowen Choice Neighborhoods Program (CNP), that do not have adequate computers at home, will receive laptops in September. This AH program supports struggling neighborhoods with distressed public or HUD-assisted housing through a comprehensive approach to neighborhood transformation.
- Twenty laptops were distributed to the Martin Street Apartments Santa For A Day Book Club program. This pilot program features an after school program tutor and curriculum designed to help raise reading scores. The program includes an incentive program to encourage reading and writing. Students earn points that can be exchanged for field trips to sports events, cultural events, museums and exhibits.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank your entire team for this awesome gift for our residents,” said Grant. “This is a huge step towards helping them reach self-sufficiency.”