To plan and install technology systems incorporating voice, data and video in all county schools, reaching all classrooms, over a five year period.

The Solution

The first phase of the project involved two schools. The installation process at New Windsor Middle/High School was incorporated into construction of the new school. Smithfield High School presented special challenges because it required renovations to an existing facility while school was in session.

AE Systems provided each classroom in the two schools with telephone access to voicemail and other services; television with wireless remotes that control devices located in the media center and data network ports to access resources on and off site. The schools' media centers were equipped with the Ranger Media Management System by Rauland-Borg, which allows classroom access and control of videotapes, laserdiscs, still video, CD-I, satellite and cable feeds, and an electronic bulletin board for school news.

Each school now has a data network connecting a mixture of Macintosh and PC-based workstations to several servers and printers. Resources such as VA-PEN permit off-site communications and provide a gateway to the Internet. The communications servers at each school link their local area networks (LANS) into a wide are network (WAN), which will continue to grow as other county schools are equipped with the new technology.

The AE Systems "Partnership" with the County is moving forward. Contracts have been issued to start work on Smithfield Middle School. Carrsville and Hardy Elementary Schools are being renovated now and their technology plans are being finalized. The last school to be added to this impressive County-wide effort will be Carrolton Elementary. This school will be easy to add, as AE Systems installed a Telecenter V Integrated Intercom System when the school opened in 1994.

AE Systems is celebrating over 30 years of creating innovative solutions to communications problems. We enjoy a challenge.