UXBRIDGE, Mass. — There is still no definitive answer as to why an Acer laptop broke down and started burning during Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) testing in Uxbridge.
“They said they thought it was a problem with the lithium-ion battery and that the computer, the laptop, may have gone down,” said Michael Baldassarre, the city’s superintendent of schools.
A malfunction resulted in burns on the hands of an 11-year-old at Whitin High School.
What you need to know
- Uxbridge school leaders are still searching for answers after an 11-year-old student’s Acer laptop malfunctioned and caught fire on Tuesday
- Chief Michael Baldassarre spoke with Acer employees Wednesday in an effort to find the cause of the malfunction
- Acer told Baldassarre that the laptop could have been dropped and damaged, but others disagreed
- The student suffered burns on his hands and was taken to the hospital after the incident
Baldassarre met with the student and his family after the incident.
“I saw him,” said Baldassarre. “I can tell you that his arms are now in bandages and the injuries are very minor, compared to when you look at it and think about what could have happened.”
The laptop will now be sent back to Acer for further investigation.
Meanwhile, identical models of Acer laptops have been removed from schools.
“About 350,” Baldassarre said when talking about how many laptops they found. “So we’ve got them all now. We’ve got their power cords with them to make sure. We can make sure the right power cord is with the machine, if that means anything.”
MCAS testing has resumed for most of the district, but fourth through sixth grades will have to wait for new computers later this month.
“Acer is lending us 450 Chromebooks,” Baldassarre said. “It’s really hard work for a district our size to set them up in one day. So Acer is actually sending a team of people to help us with the implementation that day. So our kids will have loaner devices in their possession to continue managing MCAS.”
Acer’s loaner computers are expected to arrive on April 22.
Fourth, fifth, and sixth grades will continue their MCAS testing before the April 26 deadline to complete the assessments.