Networking | News

Illinois District Chooses Comcast Ethernet for Cloud, Virtualization Services

• By Joshua Bolkan
• 10/27/11

Township High School District 214 in Illinois has chosen Comcast Metro Ethernet services to provide cloud computing, virtualization, streaming video, data, and voice services to support more than 12,000 students.

District 214's network supports more than 6,200 computers, 1,300 VoIP phones, 850 iPads, 225 IP cameras, 400 wireless access points, HVAC management, and a virtualization project that has saved the district more than $330,000 in hardware replacements and $45,000 in energy costs.

The district, recognized by the Center for Digital Education and the National School Boards Association as a top 10 technology school district, recently moved to online enrollment for all incoming freshmen and launched a pilot project that allows students to videoconference with medical professionals through laptops.

The district is also "exploring an inter-district videoconferencing system for office meetings, which would increase efficiency and reduce travel time and mileage reimbursement expenses," according to information released by the district.

"We believe the future is in cloud computing and virtualization is the first step to bringing the district to a completely cloud-based environment," said Keith Bockwoldt, director of technology at District 214. "Kids today are growing up in a digital world, and we want to prepare our students, educators, and community for the future. Comcast's Metro Ethernet gives us the capacity and bandwidth to deliver cloud, virtualization, streaming video, and other bandwidth-intensive systems to better serve our students and help keep us on budget."

Township High School District 214 serves eight communities with six high schools and three alternative programs. Located 25 miles northwest of downtown Chicago, it is the second largest high school district in Illinois and ranked in the top four percent of the state for academic performance.

More information about Comcast Metro Ethernet services is available at business.comcast.com.