Carroll County Schools continues its commitment to high quality technology by installing new Wireless Access Points, network core, Ethernet switches, and uninterruptable power supplies throughout the district. This is part of a three-prong improvement plan spearheaded by the Department of Technology.
The new access points are designed to enhance Wi-Fi connectivity for all district-owned educational devices. This project is part of a whole network refresh that the technology department has undertaken. The first part, replacement of the network core, was completed in July 2023 and benefits are already being seen, according to Zachary Morris-Dean, Director of Technology. Parts two and three are wireless and data closet updates.
Morris-Dean explained that the previous system, installed in 2017, served the district well but could no longer meet the growing demands. "Our network now supports not only computers, but also surveillance cameras, door access controllers, visitor entry systems, and leaves room for future growth," he noted. "We tested the new system at the technology office, transportation office, bus garage and maintenance shop for six months to ensure everything was fine-tuned before rolling it out to all schools."
A total of 275 new wireless access points were installed across the district from June 3-7, significantly boosting internet speed and capacity for more than 2,500 wireless devices used by students and staff. "Every student and teacher has a mobile device, whether an iPad or a laptop," Morris-Dean said. "We also provide free public Wi-Fi to our students and staff, and this upgrade will ensure we can meet the demands of newer technology with improved speed and capacity."
Not only will it improve speed and capacity, Morris-Dean said cybersecurity will be improved as well. “We are keeping kids safer and able to keep the district data safe,” he said.
The district is able to make these improvements through the help of the FCC e-rate program, which only requires Carroll County Schools to pay 15% of the cost with the FCC covering the remainder.
Phase two of the improvement plan was done in February when data switches at Kathryn Winn, the high school and Head Start were completed. Just last week, Morris-Dean received word that the district had been approved for funding from the e-rate program to replace the remaining data switches at Carroll County Middle School, Cartmell Elementary, the Area Technology Center and iLEAD Academy.
Additionally in June, Morris-Dean coordinated the installation of new uninterruptable power supplies across the district. “These systems are designed to keep the network closets, and all of the devices they power, online for about 45 minutes during a power outage. This is more important than ever before due to the safety and security systems that rely on our network.” Morris-Dean said.
“Due to federal funding, we can start installing the last part of the equipment after July 1,” he said. “By the middle of next school year all of the data switches across the district will be brand new, giving us faster and more reliable connections.”