The Path to Modernizing IT Infrastructure & Safety for K-12

Before the onset of the fully remote learning landscape during the pandemic, K-12 schools were on a 10 to 15-year roadmap of incremental systematic updates to their infrastructure and IT resources.

Zoom in: This year marks the conclusion of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding program for K-12 schools, which has supplied pandemic recovery funds that many districts used to enhance educational software and systems. As these funds expired in September 2024, schools are now utilizing these dwindling resources.

Zoom out: In the months ahead, according to a Stanford Report, "The use of immersive technologies like augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality is also expected to surge in the classroom, especially as new high-profile devices integrating these realities hit the marketplace in 2024."

How Holistic Technology Planning Saves Lives

We also see a trend with our K-12 customers investing in campus safety technology. IT leaders nationwide are tasked with meeting new public safety requirements in education. They must provide effective learning tools and strong infrastructure while implementing compliant technologies to enhance school safety.

NWN's customer, Wiseburn Unified School District, in Hawthorne, CA, recently announced a $15M comprehensive technology plan to enhance network security and school safety tech investments to deliver a safe and productive environment for students, faculty, and administration.

From universities to K-12 schools, technology plays a critical role in keeping our students safe. While many schools have advanced to meet the latest in safety laws - some districts still struggle.

Leading K-12 school safety technology investments include:

• Access controls, visitor management & mass notification systems
• Meeting mandates with ease: Alyssa's Law, RAY BAUM's Act, and Kari's Law
• Leveraging existing legacy technologies, saving significant costs
• Secure by design with integrated devices & wireless infrastructure
• Modernizing security platforms to improve IT security threat detection and response

Funding School Safety Upgrades

Schools are proactively updating their physical security systems to meet modern standards, often driven by new legislation. For instance, several states have implemented Alyssa's Law, which mandates silent panic alarms in public elementary and secondary schools to alert local law enforcement during emergencies. Additionally, as noted by Ed Tech, many schools are upgrading outdated surveillance cameras and access control systems.

Currently, numerous school districts still use analog camera systems that lack network connectivity and real-time communication, with some cameras over 15 years old. Modern cameras and security systems offer remote control, real-time data, and the ability to respond to visual or audio cues.

With the case of Wiseburn Unified Schools, funding came in the form of a Measure EE bond.

The grants funding technologies are competitive grants, especially at the federal level. Schools need a plan before they begin the process of applying and upgrading. See this useful Grants Finder Tool or replay our Webinar on ways to assess your funding:

1. Evaluate your project and eligibility/competitiveness for funding (including pre-qualification information and objective scoring)
2. Understand best practices for the development and submission of a winning application
3. Locate a grant writer or partner with a technology solutions provider
4. Identify strategies to meet grant match requirements

Dedicated to the Future of Education

We are committed to providing affordable options to securely connect teachers, students, and faculty using innovative cloud technologies that foster collaboration in a secure flexible learning environment. Our vast State, Local & Education funding expertise simplifies the complexity of delivering real-time, real-world IT solutions. NWN's National & State contracts are competitively bid and easy to use.

With 30 years of experience, we help school districts drive inclusive learning, centered around connectivity, collaboration, and security. Our integrated IT solutions support a modern, safe, learning environment for now… and into the future.

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