Jan. 22--After an unexpected four to five inches of snow, the three high schools set to give laptops to students Wednesday decided to reschedule their orientation sessions due to slick roadways.

The laptops will now be distributed Saturday with new time slots solely depending on the grade level for all three schools. The makeup sessions weren't rescheduled, and will be held on Jan. 28 from 6-8 p.m. For a complete schedule, see page five.

Originally, Tarboro, SouthWest, and North Edgecombe high schools had sessions set from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. for parents and students to learn what is expected of them while the students possess the computers.

The sessions were divided into times according to the students' last name, and grade level for SWE and NEHS, and just grade level for THS.

School administrators believe having the sessions on Saturday will allow more parents to come without having to schedule multiple people for the makeup day.

"The parents for the most part, aren't working (on Saturday), so that will give them the opportunity to come," said NEHS Principal Dannie Williams.

Wednesday was scheduled as the initial laptop distribution day due to it being a teacher work day and a few other factors.

"Originally it was chosen because of the planning day," said SWE Principal Timothy Pittman.

"The reason we went to Wednesday was because of the inauguration and the holiday," he said.

Students were out on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and a planning day on Tuesday, which was the day of the historic presidential inauguration.

The orientation sessions will cover Internet safety, laptop use and care, and the laptop agreement. Students who still need to pay their $25 technology/insurance fee will do so at that time to receive a laptop.

"They will receive a packet of materials once they come in the front door," Pittman said.

"The parent has to sign the forms, and they have to be with the child when they pick up the laptops."

Students and staff are looking forward to laptops being introduced as an instructional tool in the classrooms.

"We're real excited. It's going to great," said THS Principal Dr. Lisa Cooke.

"The excitement is great, the anticipation is good ... just looking forward to some great things for utilizing the laptops," Williams said.

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