Lessons Learned in Designing and Implementing the Countys Largest K12 Converged Network

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Lessons Learned in Designing and Implementing the
Countys Largest K-12 Converged Network

• Philip J. Brody, Ph.D.
• Chief Technology Officer
• Clark County School District

Consortium for School Networking Session
W207 10th Annual K-12 School Networking
Conference March 23, 2005
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Clark County School District Basic Facts

• 5th largest district in U.S.
• More than 280,000 students
• 301 schools
• Covers 7,910 square miles
• 30,000 employees
• Annual operating budget 1.6 billion

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Enrollment Growth
100,000 405,000 Students
1987
2010
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Build It and They Will Come

• 168 schools constructed since 1988
• 12 schools opened in 2003
• 14 schools opened in 2004
• 11 schools to open in 2005
• Use over 1,200 portable classrooms

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Technology Facts PCs

• Gigabit Ethernet WAN
• 90,000 PCs
• Wintel 85--90 of new purchases
• Macintosh 10--15 of new purchases
• Machines kept for a long time
• Hybrid maintenance model
• 300,000 data ports

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Need for Enhanced WAN Getting Ahead of the Curve

• Provide infrastructure for e-schooling
• Changes in technology
• Steadily increasing demands for various types of
  information
• Cost effective approach to incorporating newer
  technologies
• Centralize traditionally school-based applications

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Guiding Strategies

• Improved instruction through advanced
  technologies
• Leverage existing CCSD resources
• Standardized services/economy of scale
• Rollout without disruption
• Minimize risk
• Recoup capital costs through operational savings

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WAN Technical Characteristics

• Gigabit Ethernet Architecture
• SAIC designer and integrator
• More bandwidth for the
• Easier support and maintenance
• Converged network supports voice, video, and data
• Focus on redundancy and backup
• No network single point of failure
• Fiber to all locations

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WAN Status

• Virtually all schools now connected
• Exceptions include
• Rural and remote schools lack of fiber
• Schools on property not owned by district
• Schools functioning under special circumstances
• Installed by CCSD staff
• Functioning smoothly

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Network Architecture
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Phone Installations By the Numbers

• 162 schools with classroom phones
• 64 schools with admin phones only
• 8 admin sites
• Total phones installed 18,296
• Classroom 8,270
• School admin 8,894
• Non-school admin 1,126
• Centrex lines disconnected 4,029
• As of March 14, 2005

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Other WAN-Related Initiatives

• Video streaming and conferencing
• Virtual High School
• Web-based Library Management System
• ERP
• Instructional Data Management System
• Special Education Management System
• Security cameras over WAN

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Lessons Learned

• 1. Articulate a vision anchored in what is
  achievable and to your organizations primary
  goal.
• 2. Keep critical stake holders informed and
  engaged.
• 3. Have a realistic understanding of the
  capabilities of your staff.
• 4. Take advantage of existing resources wherever
  possible.

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Lessons Learned (cont.)

• 5. Early in the project, spend considerable
  effort in developing budget and try not to
  deviate from it too much as project unfolds.
• 6. When implementing new technologies, a
  manageable pilot or demonstration project can pay
  handsome dividends.

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Lessons Learned (cont.)

• 7. The more complex and ambitious the project,
  the more outside expertise is needed.
• 8. Although outside expertise may be essential,
  it is critical that you manage the experts.
• 9. Make certain that in-house staff will be
  meaningfully involved in designing, implementing,
  supporting the project.

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Lessons Learned (cont.)

• 10. Understand and scrupulously follow your
  enterprises procurement guidelines.
• 11. Since early success is often critical,
  consider starting with the low-hanging fruit
  strategy.
• 12. Be thoughtful, but dont be afraid to
  reorganize to meet new challenges.

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DISCUSSION