Gettysburg School District
Gettysburg School District, located in Adams County, Pennsylvania, comprises three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. These schools aim to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for students while preparing them to work, learn, serve and succeed.
Gettysburg School District, located in Adams County, Pennsylvania, comprises three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. These schools aim to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for students while preparing them to work, learn, serve and succeed.
Business Challenges
Six years ago, Gettysburg School District (GASD) found itself caught in a frustrating web of technology challenges related to its telecommunications. At the time, its failing analog phone system forced it to move quickly, but necessarily, to voice over IP (VoIP). After completing the transition to a new system, administrators thought the worst was behind them. However, less than seven years after deploying their robust Hewlett‑Packard 3Com VCX VoIP telecommunications system, school district leaders discovered they had to replace the “new” VoIP system again. HP had placed the 3Com phone system in “maintenance mode,” which essentially meant it had no viable future and, ultimately, no technical support. “Because we had recently replaced our old analog system with 3Com, our VoIP infrastructure was in place,” says Gettysburg School District technology coordinator Jeffrey Williams. “We had a rough budget for replacing it and knew what we wanted in terms of features and functionality. But we still took the time to research and accept bids from other vendors.” In addition to losing technical support, the district’s servers were aging. HP was not ready to replace them either, so they took the opportunity to consider other options.
Gettysburg began by contacting Dauphin Datacom, a local Switchvox reseller. According to Kurt Mark, senior territory manager at Dauphin Datacom, the experience with HP left many telecom resellers, including his company, empty-handed with their customers. “They kept assuring us they would support the product, but it didn’t take long to realize that wasn’t the case. And that left us out in the cold,” Mark admits. “The misfortune of having to replace their 3Com after only six years was a burden for the Gettysburg Area schools, so we decided to take a different approach this time.” “We considered a hosted solution that certainly had advantages,” says Williams. “In the long run, I decided I liked the idea of having it in-house, where I could control and manage the implementation with as little complexity, care and maintenance as possible.”
Gettysburg was also unwilling to give up any features or functionality, and they had security customizations that required easy simplification and integration with other software as well. Some of the customizations included ensuring that calls reached every classroom and were linked to the intercom system. Enhanced security was also needed in all schools in the form of a 911 emergency alert system. “They also had a unique need for integrated security,” Mark explains. “They had a camera at the service entrance that needed to be connected and integrated with the phone system so that office staff wouldn’t blindly let people into the building without knowing who they were. This product was made by a third party, but the Switchvox integration went smoothly. Switchvox is excellent when it comes to compatibility with third-party or even proprietary software, and that’s a capability we highlight everywhere.”
Sangoma Solutions
Given the budget constraints and the customizations required by the school district, Mark’s instinct told him that the Switchvox UC solution was the way to go. With all five schools now connected to the main hub in the main administration building, Switchvox provided the kind of consistency and permanence that would keep GASD from having to worry about replacing the entire system in six, ten, or twenty years.
Given the budget constraints and the customizations required by the school district, Mark’s instinct told him that the Switchvox UC solution was the way to go. With all five schools now connected to the main hub in the main administration building, Switchvox provided the kind of consistency and permanence that would keep GASD from having to worry about replacing the entire system in six, ten, or twenty years.
The Switchvox UC business communications solution is constantly enhanced and updated. This extends its functionality while keeping it flexible, versatile, and fully supported. While “big box” systems may seem stable, the fluidity of telecom technology and the volatility of mergers and acquisitions in the telecom market make Switchvox the better, more sustainable choice.
Results
Among the school’s favorite features are mobility and phone applications. “The mobile app is very important for our teachers and district supervisors who often travel from one school to another,” says Williams. “They can make and receive calls on demand instead of having a receptionist look for them or leave messages. They even have voicemail-to-email integration so they never miss a call if they’re in a meeting.” “We were quite tight on budget when it came to buying a new phone solution, but in the end, we came in about 10% under budget, so everything went well from our point of view,” says Williams.
Among the school’s favorite features are mobility and phone applications. “The mobile app is very important for our teachers and district supervisors who often travel from one school to another,” says Williams. “They can make and receive calls on demand instead of having a receptionist look for them or leave messages. They even have voicemail-to-email integration so they never miss a call if they’re in a meeting.” “We were quite tight on budget when it came to buying a new phone solution, but in the end, we came in about 10% under budget, so everything went well from our point of view,” says Williams.