<h2 style="font-weight: normal;">
</h2><h4 style="font-weight: normal;"><font size="2">April 14, 2008<br><a href="http://www.wxii12.com/news/15878798/detail.html" target="_blank">http://www.wxii12.com/news/15878798/detail.html</a></font></h4><h4 style="font-weight: normal;">
</h4><h4 style="font-weight: normal;">STOKES COUNTY, N.C. -- A school computer containing the names, test scores
and Social Security numbers of students from three Stokes County high
schools was stolen from a locked closet, authorities said.
<p>
The school system sent home a letter to parents last week notifying them
of the theft, which affected between 400 to 800 students at West, South
and North Stokes high schools.
</p><p>
"Wednesday after we returned from our spring break, a teacher notified us
that she had misplaced (the) laptop computer," said school system
superintendent Dr. Stewart Hobbs.
</p><p>
The computer was used for scoring exams in the career and technical
courses, the school system said.
</p><p>
And though the computer contained personal information, Hobbs said he
doesn't think the information can be accessed.
</p><p>
"All information stored on the computer is protected by two separate
security systems, each of which requires a password," the letter stated.
</p><p>
"Any time any type of computer, especially if it has student information
that's missing, this is of importance to us," Hobbs said</p></h4>