Schools and ShoreTel Business VoIP Solutions: A Winning Combination

School systems all around Northern California are looking for phone system upgrades.

School budgets have been slashed and E-Rate funding has dramatically changed. IT departments have been tasked with looking for a long term communication solution.

Schools and ShoreTel are that winning combination. Here are some reasons to look at a ShoreTel Premise Solution for your business VoIP Needs.

Funding Options

Going out to a formal bid takes time, money and resources. Once you have narrowed down your VoIP communication options, you can look at purchasing methods for a new system.

ShoreTel is authorized for purchases via CMAS, WSCA/NASPO and PEPPM, just to name a few. These organizations allow purchases off the GSA and limit bidding requirements. (Check with your purchasing department for internal requirements).

So instead of getting bids from 20 different companies with 20 different solutions, you can narrow your search and have an idea of the pricing, as it has already been bid.

Central Administration

As the IT department, taking over the installation and maintenance of the business VoIP communication solution may be the last thing on your list. With the ShoreTel one-system architecture, you can have one main site and deploy your schools sites on your schedule.

You have options for integration of your current switches, so you can have a 2-3 year installation plan. With each site installation, you are adding parts to the site, but all the programming is done in a central location.

You can start the configuration and programming while schools are in session then deploy and cut over any lines over holiday breaks. No longer are you waiting for school holidays to do complete installs.

Special Pricing for Schools

ShoreTel wants to work with schools on their VoIP solutions. That is why a standard K-12 school gets an automatic $90 off list price for handsets. They have handset models in all shapes and sizes. The classic classroom IP phone will be $99 after the discount. No more $200 or $300 IP phones. When combining government discounts and handset discounts, you can save even more, allowing that IT phone system budget to do more. ShoreTel is committed to the lowest Total Cost of Ownership. To learn more, check out this article from Nemertes Research.

The key for any successful installation at a school is choosing a provider for the business VoIP solution. Gaynor Telesystems has been installing phone systems, VoIP solutions, and more in schools for over 30 years. 

We have the ability to sell via the government programs, and the know-how on installation timelines, process, and maybe most importantly, we understand how to interface with both IT, school administration, and teachers. 

To learn more, check out our success story with Modoc School District.

We are here to help schools choose the right solution. We know that budgets are squeezed, security is critical and timing is paramount.  Contact us today, we can meet with you and review all your options for a business VoIP deployment, whether it is this summer, or next year. 

About Us

Gaynor Telesystems Inc. has been proudly serving the North State Communities of Chico, Yuba City, Marysville, Eureka, Arcata, Sacramento, Davis, Woodland, Redding, and Red Bluff for more than 40 years. We have the information you found in this blog was useful. To learn more about how Gaynor Telesystems Inc. can help you install, maintain or service business communication solutions, please contact us at 877-Gaynor1.

Today's Security Solutions for Safer Schools Offer More Than Cameras

CCTV school security camera systems are not a new thing, but have been a topic of conversation for many years now. Schools not only have to be aware of crime from outside individuals, but also from the actions of students on campus.

No longer are schools looking at security solutions as just cameras, they are wanting to see what other projects are available for safety. Here are a few options available for security measures for schools.

Paging, Emergency Alerts and Lockdown Notification Systems

Most schools have some type of bell clock system. Many of them are hundreds of years old (okay not really hundreds, but at least 20 years!). The cost of replacing those systems can be very expensive, especially when you look at the infrastructure.

With the  IP environment, changing out all the speakers is no longer a requirement. When looking at the simple security solution of a paging system, you want to make sure you can get clear messages out to everyone on campus.

Some options for today’s security solutions in technology are the alerts and emergency communications by VALCOM. Now with your VALCOM Emergency Notification  solution you can interface for both bell schedules and emergency announcements including Lockdowns. 

VALCOM is the only manufacturer of K12 Emergency notification systems certified by Homeland Security.  These affordable systems will keep your students & staff quickly notified of emergency situations with lockdown announcements, reader boards, mass notification via sms, screen pops and more.  

Cameras

CCTV school security camera systems are still highly used in both K-12 and college campuses. Pelco is a trusted brand leader in the education market. With Pelco, you can have a central monitoring location. Using IP camera technology allows you access from anywhere on the network with the correct rights and permissions. Thus allowing a security officer at one high school to look at an incident at another. 

When you implement a camera solution as part of your security solution, you’re able to use the cameras to look at events, whether they come from an outside intruder or a bully on the school campus. Placement of the cameras in common student areas is practiced by most school districts. Working with a professional is the key to finding the correct placement of the cameras. To learn more about CCTV camera installation, look at our success story at Corning School District.

Money is always a concern with schools. Working with a provider who understands purchasing methods like CMAS and WCSA are helpful to schools. It is also important to work with someone who can design your security solutions with you in mind – your areas of concern, the needs you have, and if you’re interfacing with any other projects.

Want to know more about our experience working with schools? 

About Us

Gaynor Telesystems Inc. has been proudly serving the North State Communities of Chico, Yuba City, Marysville, Eureka, Arcata, Sacramento, Davis, Woodland, Redding, Yreka and Red Bluff for more than 40 years. We hope the information you found in this blog was useful. To learn more about how we can help you install, maintain or service business communication solutions, please contact us at 877-Gaynor1. 

3 Features for School Intercom Systems Critical for Today's Campuses

Each month we hear and read about more school campus tragedies. These may be on college campuses, high schools or even elementary schools. No school is immune to the nightmares of lockdowns caused by those possibly seeking to do harm. School bell systems are one of the more important tools used in school communication solutions. Today’s school intercom has more options and is not just a speaker in a hallway. Here are some of the trends today.

Punch Alert

This application is designed for schools, but can be used on other applications as well. Punch Alert is an application on your smart phone. You can think of it as real time emergency notification. The app allows you to alert emergency responders with one push. Check out the video below to learn more.

Punch Alert recently finished its integration with ShoreTel solutions, allowing it to be a part of school intercom and communication solutions.

Class Connection

A traditional school intercom system with the technology of today, the Class Connection solution uses the speakers and classrooms for intercom. You can set up bell schedules and special alerts for your classrooms. There’s the ability to have special messages for fire alarms and other emergencies. Class Connections is an IP based system, so it can be easily managed by anyone with network rights and access.

Syn-App

This school intercom product works with ShoreTel phones to allow for easy mass notifications. The Syn-App product is designed to work with legacy/analog speakers. This means the schools don’t have to re-use the older speakers and horns and don’t have to pay the costs of re-cabling. There are bell schedules and announcements available. This product can be used at schools and industries where mass communication is critical.

These three options for enhancing school intercom systems are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the availability of options for schools and security today. The changing of technology to IP, and networking schools together, give more and more options each year. 

About Us

Gaynor Telesystems Inc. has been proudly serving the North State Communities of Chico, Yuba City, Marysville, Eureka, Arcata, Sacramento, Davis, Woodland, Redding, and Red Bluff for more than 40 years. We hope the information you found in this blog was useful. To learn more about how Gaynor Telesystems Inc. can help you install, maintain or service business communication solutions, please contact us at 877-Gaynor1.