Springfield Schools Selects Epiphany Hosted Stations from Telesystem over Traditional Premise-based Phone Systems to Reduce Costs, Improve Communications and Security
TOLEDO, Ohio – May 29, 2013 – Today, Telesystem announced that Springfield Local Schools, a public school district in the Village of Holland, has selected the Hosted VoIP Phone System from Telesystem as their new phone system provider. The Hosted VoIP solution will save Springfield Schools more than $120,000 over the next five years, plus help to improve safety and security by putting a phone into every classroom in every school.
The Phone System is a Hosted IP-PBX/Centrex System that utilizes Session Initiated Protocol (SIP), to deliver the capabilities and functionality typically found in premise-based phone systems. Since the carrier-class feature servers are housed in the Telesystem Network Operations Center, the Hosted VoIP solution will replace the district's current premise-based PBX system and provide enhanced features and functionality without the expense of purchasing or maintaining new equipment. Combining Telesystem's Metro-Ethernet Network and Springfield's existing IP network, over 300 hosted station phones will be installed across multiple locations to deliver high definition voice service over a private Ethernet connection.
"At Springfield Schools we depend on a robust communications infrastructure to ensure the district runs smoothly and to keep our middle school, high school and four elementary schools connected. Families also expect easy access to teachers and personnel, so reliability was an absolute requirement," said Jason Dugan, Director of Technology, Springfield Local Schools. "Telesystem exceeded all of our expectations and offered us a comprehensive solution that is flexible, easy to manage and provides significant cost savings. Every dollar we save on our telecommunications services can now be invested in programs that help improve administrative efficiency and educational excellence for our 4,100 students."
In addition, Telesystem worked with Springfield Schools to meet their E-Rate Technical Assistance Program requirements. The E-Rate program provides discounts to eligible kindergarten through 12th-grade schools to obtain affordable access to modern telecommunications services. Discounts can range between 20 to 90 percent, depending on the level of poverty and the urban/rural status of the population served.
"Our Hosted VoIP Phone System offers the same features and functionality as traditional premise-based systems, but at a significantly lower total cost of ownership," said Carol Willison, Director of Commercial Sales, Telesystem. "We are very pleased Telesystem could offer a solution that gives the Springfield School District the features, functionality and flexibility they will need for years to come. It's extremely important for Telesystem to support schools within our community and help contribute to their continued success. We are excited to know that our solution will have such a positive impact on the school district financially and support their safety plans by putting a phone in every classroom."
About Springfield Local Schools
Springfield Local School District is a suburban school district in western Lucas County serving approximately 4,100 students. The district has been rated Excellent or Excellent with Distinction on the State's Local Report Card for the last four years. Over the last four years the district has also been able to minimize per pupil expenditures by over $1,300 per student while maintaining academic excellence. Springfield Local Schools maintains fiscal excellence on a $35 million operating budget.
About Telesystem
With a customer-centric mission, Telesystem is the dominant communications provider for commercial customers primarily in the northwest/north central Ohio and southeast Michigan areas. Established in 1994, Telesystem maintains superior customer satisfaction by providing a wide array of integrated communication services and solutions delivered across their highly-advanced fiber and carrier-grade Ethernet core network. Utilizing Session-Initiated Protocol (SIP), offerings such as Hosted Stations (Hosted IP-Centrex), SIP Trunks, high-definition voice and a growing suite of application solutions are available virtually anywhere in the world through the advancement of the Epiphany product portfolio.
Telesystem is a subsidiary of privately-owned Block Communications, Inc., whose other holdings include Buckeye CableSystem, a multiple system cable operator in the Toledo/Sandusky, Ohio area, the Toledo Blade, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette daily newspapers.
