SALISBURY — Almost every student in Rowan-Salisbury Schools was able to pick up their assigned device or be issued one amid the statewide closure of public schools for at least two weeks because of the spread of COVID-19, a respiratory disease cased by a coronavirus.

Rowan-Salisbury CTO David Blattner said only 48 elementary students did not receive a device after Monday distribution of materials from schools. K-2 students normally use iPads in class, but they are not given them to take home. During closure, the district is attempting to continue education electronically, and iPads were distributed to students on Monday. Those students needed a parent present to receive an iPad.

Pre-K students have not been issued iPads.

Superintendent Lynn Moody said K-2 students who were not able to get an iPad on Monday would not be able to get a tablet for the next two weeks. Those students were also given printed education packets with enough content for two weeks.

With the distribution mostly done, Blattner said the district’s technology department has seen a large influx of help requests for the one-time login required for web filtering on the tablets. He anticipates other issues will crop up will students are home as well.

“Students are going to break their devices when they’re at home,” Blattner said.

The district is setting up repair depots so students can come for quick fixes or to swap out non-functioning devices. Another issue is helping students and parents understand interfacing with teachers via iPad, but Blattner has a team ready for that as well.

“I’ve looked at my job the past couple of days as doing two things: a continuity of learning and a continuity of business,” Blattner said. “In the continuity of learning it was how do we get them their devices and how do we keep supporting them?”

During depot hours, students can approach in cars and hand off devices without getting out, to avoid advisories against large gatherings.

The RSS technology help desk can be reached at 980-330-1078. Repair depot times are as follows:

• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. today at East Rowan, West Rowan, North Rowan and Salisbury high schools

• 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday: East Rowan and West Rowan high schools

• 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 26: South Rowan and Salisbury high schools

• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 31: East Rowan, West Rowan, North Rowan and Salisbury high schools

Bragging about Rowan-Salisbury Schools, Blattner said no other system is more leveraged to handle the current situation more than RSS. Decisions made over the past few years, like eLearning Days, have put the district in a place to adjust quickly.

Apple has been helping supply chargers to fill an anticipated shortage for the district and the company is also working with the district to help with trouble shooting and resources for parents.