Simsbury Schools Begins First Phase of Network Infrastructure Project

During the first meeting of the 2012-2013 school year, the Simsbury Board of Education announced the first steps the district is taking to convert its data network infrastructure.

In May, Simsbury residents voted to approve a $1.8 million project to replace the school district's aging network system with a new Thin Client operating system. Burke LaClair, the district's business manager, announced that the first phase of a three-year project began on August 8.

"We're now at a point where we have a small number of clients," LaClair said.

The district will begin testing the new system with a group of 15 staff volunteers.

Those participating in the initial test of the system will begin using a Windows 7 operating system, Microsoft Office 2010, and will benefit from faster startups and the ability to correct most software issues by rebooting the computer, according to the presentation given Tuesday night.

Once the system has been tested and used by the initial volunteers the district will make it available to Tariffville Elementary School classrooms that are using projectors and smartboards.

"We hope to roll it out in December to all schools," LaClair said.

The district will begin using the network at Tariffville because it is one of the district's smallest schools.

During the first year of the conversion the Thin Client system will be used in all classrooms that use projectors and smartboards. In the second year it will be introduced to all remaining classroom computers, computer labs, and libraries. In the third year it will be used in all remaining instructional and non-instructional computers, according to the presentation.

LaClair told the board that professional development will be offered for district faculty during the 2012-2013 school year.