Case Studies
Mount Vernon City School District
Business Challenges
- Upgrading the school district’s existing network and introducing wireless technology to the classrooms
- Managing and storing sensitive student information
- Developing a robust and scalable network
- Keeping the campuses throughout the District secure for students and administration
The Mount Vernon City School District (MVCSD), located just north of the Bronx in Westchester County, New York, serves 10,000 students at 15 different locations. The District serves a very diverse economic community. The IT staff at Mount Vernon required a solution that would upgrade the school’s existing network to include wireless networking throughout the various school campuses. Teachers and administrators wanted to enhance the learning experience and introduce students to the added resources provided by a technology-enabled classroom.
Axispoint Solution
- Flexible and secure wireless solution that can be managed and upgraded from a central location
- Mobile computer labs and wireless laptops at all sites
- IP phones and security cameras
The first stage of the project was to consult with administrators to understand the needs of the school district. Engineers from Axispoint and MVCSD worked closely to build a custom solution that would address those needs. Data storage and security were key challenges, given the number of students served each year. An encrypted and authenticated wireless network ensures that all records will be kept secure, and electronic databases limit paperwork and the need for storage on premises. In the future, as the needs of the District grow, the existing T-1 lines will be replaced with a fiber optic ring, bringing additional network capacity.
Mount Vernon’s wireless infrastructure not only improves connectivity, but also serves as the backbone for other essential services. Voice over IP technology can deliver voice traffic over the wireless network without the need for traditional wiring, and wireless IP security cameras at each location are enabled and monitored by the network. With the combination of a more connected learning environment, and the benefits the wireless network provides, the Mount Vernon City School District is truly an “intelligent” atmosphere.
Business Value
- Students have direct access to computers
- Teachers and faculty can incorporate technology and web-based educational tools into their lesson plans
- School security is enhanced through network-enabled handheld devices, increasing student safety
- The VoIP network and wireless IP phones save toll charges and can provide broader coverage for the “dead zones” in schools
The wireless environment allows faculty to encourage cooperative learning, utilize multimedia resources, and share teaching techniques – all of which improve the student’s learning experience. Each school has mobile computer carts with laptop computers and printers. With internet-enabled laptops, teachers can communicate with the faculty and staff on-site, as well as with teachers in other schools. School psychologists, previously limited to taking notes on paper and typing them later, can now transcribe their notes in real time, allowing them to consult with more students each day.
Security has been improved, as the security cameras are linked to the school’s network, and can be viewed by administrators with proper security access. Handheld devices can now view live feed from any camera in the district, allowing security guards to literally “see around corners”. IP phones save money for the district, while alleviating the problem of the “dead zones” that were prevalent with standard cell phone service.
Future project plans include installing radio frequency identification to track expensive equipment, an interactive voice response system for parents seeking assignments and special announcements, and software to track the students eligible for free or subsidized lunches.
"When we began to think about upgrading our network, we were impressed with Axispoint’s complete solution. They really took our needs into account, and have become a true partner for our organization. With Axispoint’s expertise, the Mount Vernon City School District is able to introduce state-of-the-art technology into the classroom, and improve the learning experience for students, teachers, and administrators.”
- Joseph McGrath, CTO, Mount Vernon City School District