Technology leaders at Mt. Diablo Unified School District in California faced similar hurdles. Here’s how they broke down the project with bond funding and expert guidance.
Taking Steps to Modernize Clocks and PA Systems
The leadership team at Mt. Diablo USD used bond funding to first upgrade the “behind the wall” technology infrastructure, says Melanie Koslow, the district’s executive director of maintenance, operations and facilities. “Those infrastructure pieces allow us to also upgrade what’s happening on the front end.”
Once the district took care of the behind-the-scenes components, it turned to its outdated collaboration technologies.
“Our clocks, bells and PA systems in our classrooms are original. They are hardwired,” Koslow says. “When a clock goes out or when a speaker goes out, we are sometimes rummaging through our electronics shop, pulling pieces to make repairs because the front-end items aren’t used anymore.”
Now, the district is working toward new, digital clocks and an upgraded announcement system in all of its buildings. It’s a process school leaders take one step at a time.
KEEP READING: Is it a mistake to stretch out IT modernization lifecycles?
“Our goal is to provide that throughout the district over the next few years,” Koslow says. “As we receive future community support, potentially in a future bond, we’ll be able to put those systems in classrooms across the district.”
Moving to VoIP Phones for Safety and IT Efficiency
The district is also working toward modernizing its phone system as part of its plan to upgrade collaboration technologies.
“One of the biggest concerns we have on the operations side is our current telephone system, which is original and antiquated,” Koslow says. “We have a very limited number of staff who can manage the system.”
The antiquated system is hard to maintain and creates concerns for district staff, especially when it comes to school safety needs. The ability to communicate in the event of an emergency is critical.
WATCH NOW: Mt. Diablo Unified School District strengthens school safety.
The answer?
“We are moving toward a VoIP system, which we had deployed in a couple of locations many years back,” Koslow says. “The technology is so much better and more reliable, and it will allow us to have more technicians able to work the system.”
