The Kalispell School District in Kalispell, Montana, consists of 13 school and administration locations with more than 5,500 students and staffers. About two years ago, Albert Booky, the IT Manager for the Kalispell School District, started investigating the possibilities for deploying a wireless network throughout the district. All of the district’s locations were already connected via DSL or T1 leased lines, but bandwidth constraints prevented them from realizing some key near-term objectives.
Namely, they wanted to consolidate access to their extensive Student Records Information System (SIS) to a centralized server site, instead of each location hosting its own SIS server. This centralization would achieve significant operational, administrative and security efficiencies.
Further, they planned to launch some distance-learning initiatives, offering video instruction to multiple remote sites. They also had to plan for the addition of a new high school scheduled to open in 2007, along with the realignment of several existing schools in the district.  The need for high bandwidth, scalability, reliability, remote manageability, and security led Booky’s team to identify point-to-point broadband microwave radio communication as the right solution to meet their objectives. “We considered a point-to-multipoint solution, but we felt that it wouldn’t provide the bandwidth we needed. Also, we were concerned about the security of the multipoint configuration,” says Booky of their decision.
With wireless radio equipment from three manufacturers in mind, including RAD’s AirMux-200, the Kalispell School District put the project out for bid. Rick Lindahl, president of Invictus Networks, RAD’s Oregon-based systems integration partner, comments: “When I saw this opportunity, I knew the AirMux was the ideal fit for this project. We’ve had great success with the AirMux in several similar projects. Plus, the price-performance ratio of the AirMux makes it an easy sell.”
Since Invictus Networks completed the installation that, according to Booky, “went as smoothly as promised,” the AirMux network has performed without a hitch. With one central tower equipped with a switch as the hub, pairs of AirMux antennas are beaming the district’s critical data in point-to-point connections to nine of the district’s school and administration locations. This has enabled them to complete the SIS server consolidation and has paved the way for distance learning applications, as well as for the district’s anticipated expansion.  While they are currently only using the AirMux network for data transport, Booky anticipates integrating their PBX voice traffic onto the same network in the near future. “That’s what made the AirMux-200 even more attractive, the ease with which we can converge our voice network with our data network,” he commented. Such a convergence will achieve even greater operational efficiencies and will yield a higher return on investment as they can eliminate the costs of multiple leased lines.
When asked about his level of satisfaction with the recent deployment, Booky summarized “I don’t know anything that could have been done different to make us any happier. We are very pleased with the implementation and ongoing functionality of the AirMux network.” |
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