PosTrack Telecom K-12 Solutions

Convergence

Today's K-12 district faculty, administrators, and staff are highly mobile, and require flexible, cost-effective communications both within and outside of the actual school setting. IP (Internet Protocol) networks running applications such as VoIP (Voice over IP) and HD Video conferencing can assist educators with a wide range of functions-from disaster planning to keeping in touch with parents and colleagues. Hosted VoIP services can even help teachers and staff remain in touch and continue to operate when a disaster damages or destroys the district's phone system.

The key to all these capabilities is the convergence of IP networks, which carry both data and voice for K-12 schools. Internet Protocol (IP) is the networking protocol governing the transmission of data over the World Wide Web. It is also quickly becoming the protocol of choice for private, state-run, and nonprofit owned data networks, such as those that link school districts to schools and schools to the Internet-like the Illinois Century Network (ICN), BadgerNet (WI), and Merit Network in Michigan. These converged IP voice and data networks not only help to hold down costs, but facilitate everything from disaster planning to teacher recruitment. Through unique agreements with these state and private broadband providers, PosTrack delivers hosted cost-effective VoIP and HD video services to the districts utilizing these existing "last-mile" IP data connections.

Disaster Planning and Response

IP networks can carry the videoconferences used to create and update disaster response and recovery plans. Hosted VoIP services provide continued communications even if a disaster destroys the school building, since hosted services are centrally controlled from a highly secure datacenter and do not require a PBX or video server on the school premises. In the face of an emergency (or just a snow day) administrators, teachers, and staff can reroute calls from school to school, their home, or any location from a computer connected to the Internet.

Distance Learning

Audio and video Web conferencing allow students to participate in distance learning, teachers to access professional development, and administrators to conduct initial interviews of job candidates without the time and travel cost associated with in-person classes or interviews.

Remote Communications

Using a software-based SIP telephone on their school laptop, teachers, administrators, or staff can make calls from home using the central IP switch at no charge to them. To protect the teachers' privacy, the school number - not the teacher's home number appears on the call recipient's caller ID.

Mobile Workers

Many teachers, administrators, coaches, nurses, or other staff move between rooms, between multiple buildings, and even between district campuses during the day. The "Find Me/Follow Me" feature in hosted VoIP solutions routes incoming calls to the user no matter where he or she may be, or what type of device they are using (such as a home, business, or mobile phone). The addition of PosTrack Converge (FMC) VoIP-Cellular service takes mobility and flexibility to its highest level.

Messaging Archiving & Distribution

VoIP systems can save voicemail messages as .wav files, which can be archived and forwarded via e-mail for legal, administrative, security, or historical reasons. Voicemail may also be sent directly to each person's e-mail in this manner allowing the sorting and prioritizing from within the user's e-mail client.

Productivity Applications

Hosted VoIP can also be the foundation for new, productivity-enhancing capabilities such as voicemail-based communication with parents, giving teachers more time to teach; and voicemail-based school community information announcements-such as school closings, athletic, academic, and extra-curricular event information that may be easily and uniquely configured for each school within a district.

Hosted VoIP solutions, where the VoIP infrastructure is owned and managed by a PosTrack, are especially attractive for K-12 school districts because they receive Priority 1 consideration for funding through the federal E-Rate program, which reimburses up to 90% for telephony, computer, and Internet technology services.

Key Benifits