Date: February 7, 2019

Project Updates - New Networks, Telephones, and Clock/Speakers - Information Technology Department (IT)
The Information Technology Department (IT) has been working hard to update the District’s critical communications systems so as to provide reliable network connections, communications, and alerting systems.

Network Upgrades
IT staff is happy to report that the majority of the District’s network upgrade projects have been completed. All of the schools that were scheduled in the first phase of the network upgrade projects are now enjoying faster network speeds and wireless access.

Telephones and Clock/Speakers
The Board of Education approved the project to replace telephone and clock, bell, and public-address (PA) systems on April 26, 2017, the design of which was vetted and recommended by the Technology Advisory Committee (TAC). This project is currently in progress.

So far, the installation of the new clocks is underway while the vendor works to configure the new telephone system. While the clocks have been powered on, they aren't yet fully configured, so they don't have full functionality just yet. Once the phone system is ready, both the clock and phone systems will be activated at the same time. Staff anticipates the transition to the new system will start within the next 2 to 4 weeks. Training will be provided to site office staff responsible for paging and sending alerts.

The two systems (clocks and phones) will be linked together so that paging and alerts can happen on both systems. The systems were designed to increase safety and efficient communications, particularly in an emergency situation.

Additionally, IT would like to address some concerns expressed about the presence of a microphone in the clocks. This model of the clock comes with both alert flashers and a microphone. The alert flashers were required to ensure that any occupant in the room who cannot hear warning tones would be alerted in the case of an emergency. Based on the District’s design of the system presented to the TAC in February 2017, the microphone was not part of the original design and will not be activated. None of the units have cameras.

Please take a look at this short video for more information about these projects. https://youtu.be/ho9w6XqvvBs

IT thanks you for your patience while we work to bring these new systems online to make the District’s school sites safer and provide more reliable communication systems.