Fiber optics enhances communication

A new phone system at Pea Ridge schools will improve communication ability and save the district money.

Keln Taylor, technology director, said the installation of fiber optics lines last summer enabled the district to change the phone system to a new internet-based system. That system replaces not only the phone system, but the intercom system as well.

"It lets us have the entire district on one system," Taylor explained. "That allowed us to have one computer network and we're using the phone system on top of that computer network.

"The old phone system was a bit antiquated," he said.

The new phone numbers will be 1-800 numbers which will mean there is no long-distance fee associated with calls from land lines, Taylor said.

"We're using a phone service that comes in over the internet. The savings is tremendous."

The old phone numbers will "roll over" to the new phone lines during a transitional time. The 800 prefix must be dialed even from a cell phone to access the new numbers.

"The old numbers will work for quite a while. At some point, we'll put information into voice mail rather than transfer."

The old intercom system at the Intermediate School needed repair; the bid to repair that was $10,000, Taylor said. The intercom system at the high school needed to be replaced; it would not allow communication with other buildings, including the storm shelter and indoor practice facility. The new system does.

With the new phones and phone numbers, there is the capability of principals and school officials taking a telephone home to be available in the event of an emergency.

"The flexibilty in the event of an emergency situation is even greater. We have a whole lot more control in a disaster situation," Taylor said.

Taylor said the internet comes in through fiber optics now instead of over copper lines and it's more reliable now.

"Through e-rate, we're able to beef up our infrastructure even more," he said. "We received a severe discount."

"We have spent under $15,000 in phone equipment and now have a district-wide phone system and new intercom at the high school and intermediate," Taylor said.

"Our long term goal is to replace 30 phone lines throughout the district. We pay around $37/month each so that is over $1,100/month or $13,200/year. Our long distance provider has also been eliminated. (We spent around $4,800/year last year.)"

The new internet phone service (including toll free numbers, long distance and "local service") is costing us around $200 per month right now and isn't expected to ever exceed $400 per month.

Superintendent Rick Neal said the new phone system "is an outstanding opportunity to use voice over internet for our intercom system, safety and telephone system inside classrooms, hallways and offices ... With one touch of a button we can reach one another; it's a great feature to have for safety and economically."