Capital
Safety & Security Project Update
New system adds a phone to every classroom
POSTED: NOVEMBER 16, 2010
UPDATED: JANUARY 3, 2011
Upgrades to the Port
Jervis School District telephone system are complete.
The district has pulled the switch on its digital system,
replacing it with an internet-based network that adds a phone to
every classroom.
Cost Savings
The new voice over internet protocol system, commonly known as
VoIP, is different than a traditional phone system. It uses the
district’s internal network, rather than an outside phone
company, to route calls. This will eliminate the need for
traditional land lines, and recurring service fees, which
currently costs the district over $40,000 a year.
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All
classrooms now have their own phone with voicemail
for teachers. |
Better
Security/Parents Have Greater Access to Teachers
While costing
less, the new system has more capabilities. For the first time
ever, every classroom in the district will have a telephone. In
addition to enhancing building security, the classroom phones
will enhance the home-school connection by providing parents
with greater access to their child’s teacher. To minimize
disruption to instruction, calls to classroom phones will go directly to the
teacher's voicemail during the school day.
Automated Staff/Office Directory
Along with the new phones comes two of the other biggest changes
–
the addition of new extension numbers and an automated directory
system. The new numbers include
extensions for teachers.
With the automated system, callers only need to remember
one number - the district's new main number, 858-3100. The menu
on the main line provides callers with options to reach a
specific extension, any of the four schools, the district
office, student services, buildings & grounds, the automated
staff directory or the new Athletic Hot Line.
Callers can still reach the schools directly. None of the school
office numbers - except for Port Jervis High School, which is now
858-3102 - have changed. The automated menus on the school lines
provide options to connect callers to the main office, school
administrators, guidance counselors/social worker, or the staff
directory.
The voice
recognition feature of the new automated staff directory makes
it easy to find extensions for teachers and staff members.
Callers simply have to state the name of the person they are
trying to reach. The system will automatically connect the
caller to the staff members' extension or teachers' voice mail.
Upgrades funded by Capital Project
The telephone system upgrade, which included laying more than
10,000 feet of cable in Port schools, is part of the $14.6
million Capital Safety and School Renovation Project approved by
voters in February 2010.
Main Lines
District Main Number 858-3100
Port Jervis High School 858-3102
Port Jervis Middle School 858-3148
Anna S. Kuhl Elementary School 858-3135
Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary School 754-8314
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