WW-P district connects computers on its own

Video conferences, centralized attendance and districtwide e-mail are just some of the features of the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District’s wide area network, which is now up and running.

By: Gwen Runkle
   Video conferences, centralized attendance and districtwide e-mail are just some of the features of the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District’s wide area network, which is now up and running.
   Over the past two years, 17.5 miles of fiber-optic cable was strung on existing telephone poles and run underground to connect all the computers in the school district.
   "It allows us to have complete building-to-building connectivity without renting to an outside company," said Tom Peraino, director of technology.
   "Normally when you use this type of service from, say, Verizon, you pay a monthly fee," Mr. Peraino said. "But there comes a point after renting for so long when you have paid so much you could have owned it."
   The West Windsor-Plainsboro Board of Education decided about two years ago to build the network, rather than rent, and budgeted $1.2 million for the project, Mr. Peraino said.
   Previously, each school in the district had its own network, used e-mail services through the New Jersey Computer Connection and used Verizon for Internet connection, he said.
   "Now we own our own network and after about 5½ years, the school district will be ahead of the game financially," he said.
   Mr. Peraino also said owning the network is a wise investment for the district because of the many benefits it could provide. In addition to the e-mail, video conferences and attendance benefits, "It could help to facilitate distance- and in-service learning between schools," he said.
   He said he plans to discuss all the possibilities of the new network with Gary Reece, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, to figure out how to best make use of the new system.