Discussions

We use FreePBX/Asterisk for our phone system on our campus with Sangoma IP phones and Algo IP speakers. We currently have an IP phone in each classroom. In some buildings we have an IP speaker in the classrooms as well as the phone. We use the speakers for bells and emergency announcements (we used to rely on the ip phones but they just weren't loud enough). We are thinking about removing the phones in the classrooms and only installing the IP speaker, the classroom phones just never get used. Our only reservation is in case of an emergency. The classroom speakers are two way but currently the teacher is not able to initiate the call from the classroom.

Can we count on the teacher to always have a cell phone or do we leave the LAN line phone in the classroom just in case? What do other schools do? Do you have LAN line phones/IP phones in each classroom? Do you see a problem with removing the phone? I'd love to get your insight on this.

We have IP phones in every classroom.  In some buildings, we do also use them for emergency paging, but in two of our new buildings, we have overhead paging in every room, but still have IP phones.  As you noted, there's a safety component to having the phones, and they're also used for communication between the divisional offices and the rooms.  The additional cost to have the physical hardware is miniscule, whether the hardware is being purchased new (IIRC, the phones we bought for classrooms back when we got our current system 10 years ago were $50 a pop) or if it's currently existing ($0 ongoing cost), and although there's a bit of overhead to make sure phones are properly configured and physically plugged in, we're talking probably a total of under 40 man-hours a year, which IMO is worth it for the safety aspect.  Our previous PBX actually did not have an extension in every room, and we felt (and still feel) that adding phones to the rooms that hadn't had them is worth it even if they aren't used that often.

We use FreePBX/Asterisk for our phone system on our campus with Sangoma IP phones and Algo IP speakers. We currently have an IP phone in each classroom. In some buildings we have an IP speaker in the classrooms as well as the phone. We use the speakers for bells and emergency announcements (we used to rely on the ip phones but they just weren't loud enough). We are thinking about removing the phones in the classrooms and only installing the IP speaker, the classroom phones just never get used. Our only reservation is in case of an emergency. The classroom speakers are two way but currently the teacher is not able to initiate the call from the classroom.

Can we count on the teacher to always have a cell phone or do we leave the LAN line phone in the classroom just in case? What do other schools do? Do you have LAN line phones/IP phones in each classroom? Do you see a problem with removing the phone? I'd love to get your insight on this.

We use FreePBX/Asterisk for our phone system on our campus with Sangoma IP phones and Algo IP speakers. We currently have an IP phone in each classroom. In some buildings we have an IP speaker in the classrooms as well as the phone. We use the speakers for bells and emergency announcements (we used to rely on the ip phones but they just weren't loud enough). We are thinking about removing the phones in the classrooms and only installing the IP speaker, the classroom phones just never get used. Our only reservation is in case of an emergency. The classroom speakers are two way but currently the teacher is not able to initiate the call from the classroom.

Can we count on the teacher to always have a cell phone or do we leave the LAN line phone in the classroom just in case? What do other schools do? Do you have LAN line phones/IP phones in each classroom? Do you see a problem with removing the phone? I'd love to get your insight on this.

The teacher's cell phone is always a tricky question as the school does not own it, and therefore, what can you "really" mandate about its use? When installing a "soft phone" application on the device, what does that mean when a teacher is available to take calls? While providing an excellent option for making after-hours calls and making a personal cell phone number, this is generally offered as an option, not something required to have on a personal device.

As @David Fulton-Howard mentioned, having these already in place carries little overhead and wired connectivity that can't be understated (I'm not sure what signal strength is like in your buildings).

We use FreePBX/Asterisk for our phone system on our campus with Sangoma IP phones and Algo IP speakers. We currently have an IP phone in each classroom. In some buildings we have an IP speaker in the classrooms as well as the phone. We use the speakers for bells and emergency announcements (we used to rely on the ip phones but they just weren't loud enough). We are thinking about removing the phones in the classrooms and only installing the IP speaker, the classroom phones just never get used. Our only reservation is in case of an emergency. The classroom speakers are two way but currently the teacher is not able to initiate the call from the classroom.

Can we count on the teacher to always have a cell phone or do we leave the LAN line phone in the classroom just in case? What do other schools do? Do you have LAN line phones/IP phones in each classroom? Do you see a problem with removing the phone? I'd love to get your insight on this.

We use FreePBX/Asterisk for our phone system on our campus with Sangoma IP phones and Algo IP speakers. We currently have an IP phone in each classroom. In some buildings we have an IP speaker in the classrooms as well as the phone. We use the speakers for bells and emergency announcements (we used to rely on the ip phones but they just weren't loud enough). We are thinking about removing the phones in the classrooms and only installing the IP speaker, the classroom phones just never get used. Our only reservation is in case of an emergency. The classroom speakers are two way but currently the teacher is not able to initiate the call from the classroom.

Can we count on the teacher to always have a cell phone or do we leave the LAN line phone in the classroom just in case? What do other schools do? Do you have LAN line phones/IP phones in each classroom? Do you see a problem with removing the phone? I'd love to get your insight on this.

We use the Zello Business app on personal cell phones for all staff. Staff carry their phones with them all over campus (indoors and outdoors). We have excellent coverage by all carriers, so there are no dead spots. We had an old intercom system and ditched it for Motorola radios; then, we ditched the radios after about 10 years. So far, it has worked well for us with no pushback from Staff. We still have the capability of a broadcast over our fire alarm system if we need it. Eventually, their phones will also be used for door access once that system gets installed.

We use FreePBX/Asterisk for our phone system on our campus with Sangoma IP phones and Algo IP speakers. We currently have an IP phone in each classroom. In some buildings we have an IP speaker in the classrooms as well as the phone. We use the speakers for bells and emergency announcements (we used to rely on the ip phones but they just weren't loud enough). We are thinking about removing the phones in the classrooms and only installing the IP speaker, the classroom phones just never get used. Our only reservation is in case of an emergency. The classroom speakers are two way but currently the teacher is not able to initiate the call from the classroom.

Can we count on the teacher to always have a cell phone or do we leave the LAN line phone in the classroom just in case? What do other schools do? Do you have LAN line phones/IP phones in each classroom? Do you see a problem with removing the phone? I'd love to get your insight on this.

Thanks Martha for the reply. I have been curious about soft phones and if that worked with faculty since it is not a device the school owns. It's sounds like that solution is working for you. I'm curious how many schools out there implement the soft phone solution vs hard wired.

We use the Zello Business app on personal cell phones for all staff. Staff carry their phones with them all over campus (indoors and outdoors). We have excellent coverage by all carriers, so there are no dead spots. We had an old intercom system and ditched it for Motorola radios; then, we ditched the radios after about 10 years. So far, it has worked well for us with no pushback from Staff. We still have the capability of a broadcast over our fire alarm system if we need it. Eventually, their phones will also be used for door access once that system gets installed.

We use FreePBX/Asterisk for our phone system on our campus with Sangoma IP phones and Algo IP speakers. We currently have an IP phone in each classroom. In some buildings we have an IP speaker in the classrooms as well as the phone. We use the speakers for bells and emergency announcements (we used to rely on the ip phones but they just weren't loud enough). We are thinking about removing the phones in the classrooms and only installing the IP speaker, the classroom phones just never get used. Our only reservation is in case of an emergency. The classroom speakers are two way but currently the teacher is not able to initiate the call from the classroom.

Can we count on the teacher to always have a cell phone or do we leave the LAN line phone in the classroom just in case? What do other schools do? Do you have LAN line phones/IP phones in each classroom? Do you see a problem with removing the phone? I'd love to get your insight on this.

Hi Darren,

We have IP phones installed in our classrooms. In your case, would installing a soft phone app on the teacher's laptops work? In our deployment, we have staff who have softphone apps installed on their cellphone and on their laptop. If someone calls them, the call would ring on both devices.

Gerald

Thanks Martha for the reply. I have been curious about soft phones and if that worked with faculty since it is not a device the school owns. It's sounds like that solution is working for you. I'm curious how many schools out there implement the soft phone solution vs hard wired.

We use the Zello Business app on personal cell phones for all staff. Staff carry their phones with them all over campus (indoors and outdoors). We have excellent coverage by all carriers, so there are no dead spots. We had an old intercom system and ditched it for Motorola radios; then, we ditched the radios after about 10 years. So far, it has worked well for us with no pushback from Staff. We still have the capability of a broadcast over our fire alarm system if we need it. Eventually, their phones will also be used for door access once that system gets installed.

We use FreePBX/Asterisk for our phone system on our campus with Sangoma IP phones and Algo IP speakers. We currently have an IP phone in each classroom. In some buildings we have an IP speaker in the classrooms as well as the phone. We use the speakers for bells and emergency announcements (we used to rely on the ip phones but they just weren't loud enough). We are thinking about removing the phones in the classrooms and only installing the IP speaker, the classroom phones just never get used. Our only reservation is in case of an emergency. The classroom speakers are two way but currently the teacher is not able to initiate the call from the classroom.

Can we count on the teacher to always have a cell phone or do we leave the LAN line phone in the classroom just in case? What do other schools do? Do you have LAN line phones/IP phones in each classroom? Do you see a problem with removing the phone? I'd love to get your insight on this.

We use FreePBX/Asterisk for our phone system on our campus with Sangoma IP phones and Algo IP speakers. We currently have an IP phone in each classroom. In some buildings we have an IP speaker in the classrooms as well as the phone. We use the speakers for bells and emergency announcements (we used to rely on the ip phones but they just weren't loud enough). We are thinking about removing the phones in the classrooms and only installing the IP speaker, the classroom phones just never get used. Our only reservation is in case of an emergency. The classroom speakers are two way but currently the teacher is not able to initiate the call from the classroom.

Can we count on the teacher to always have a cell phone or do we leave the LAN line phone in the classroom just in case? What do other schools do? Do you have LAN line phones/IP phones in each classroom? Do you see a problem with removing the phone? I'd love to get your insight on this.

I wonder what advice has been sought from telecomm providers about IP phones and safety. I know the providers have education specific teams who can advise on these safety measures.  Might be worth having a webinar on this topic.  My hubby worked in a school district doing this work, and has worked in telecomm.  Could we worth a webinar of 60 mins?! ** I am not associated with any particular company--just my opinion.

We use FreePBX/Asterisk for our phone system on our campus with Sangoma IP phones and Algo IP speakers. We currently have an IP phone in each classroom. In some buildings we have an IP speaker in the classrooms as well as the phone. We use the speakers for bells and emergency announcements (we used to rely on the ip phones but they just weren't loud enough). We are thinking about removing the phones in the classrooms and only installing the IP speaker, the classroom phones just never get used. Our only reservation is in case of an emergency. The classroom speakers are two way but currently the teacher is not able to initiate the call from the classroom.

Can we count on the teacher to always have a cell phone or do we leave the LAN line phone in the classroom just in case? What do other schools do? Do you have LAN line phones/IP phones in each classroom? Do you see a problem with removing the phone? I'd love to get your insight on this.

I wonder what advice has been sought from telecomm providers about IP phones and safety. I know the providers have education specific teams who can advise on these safety measures.  Might be worth having a webinar on this topic.  My hubby worked in a school district doing this work, and has worked in telecomm.  Could we worth a webinar of 60 mins?! ** I am not associated with any particular company--just my opinion.

We use FreePBX/Asterisk for our phone system on our campus with Sangoma IP phones and Algo IP speakers. We currently have an IP phone in each classroom. In some buildings we have an IP speaker in the classrooms as well as the phone. We use the speakers for bells and emergency announcements (we used to rely on the ip phones but they just weren't loud enough). We are thinking about removing the phones in the classrooms and only installing the IP speaker, the classroom phones just never get used. Our only reservation is in case of an emergency. The classroom speakers are two way but currently the teacher is not able to initiate the call from the classroom.

Can we count on the teacher to always have a cell phone or do we leave the LAN line phone in the classroom just in case? What do other schools do? Do you have LAN line phones/IP phones in each classroom? Do you see a problem with removing the phone? I'd love to get your insight on this.

We use FreePBX/Asterisk for our phone system on our campus with Sangoma IP phones and Algo IP speakers. We currently have an IP phone in each classroom. In some buildings we have an IP speaker in the classrooms as well as the phone. We use the speakers for bells and emergency announcements (we used to rely on the ip phones but they just weren't loud enough). We are thinking about removing the phones in the classrooms and only installing the IP speaker, the classroom phones just never get used. Our only reservation is in case of an emergency. The classroom speakers are two way but currently the teacher is not able to initiate the call from the classroom.

Can we count on the teacher to always have a cell phone or do we leave the LAN line phone in the classroom just in case? What do other schools do? Do you have LAN line phones/IP phones in each classroom? Do you see a problem with removing the phone? I'd love to get your insight on this.

We are a bit of a hybrid.

We are using the FreePBX with Sangoma IP Phones, overhead speakers in hallways, horns outside on fields and playgrounds, and MS Teams installed on all faculty and staff devices. To reach specific faculty to release a student for early dismissal, we are able to locate the student's scheduled location to call their teacher directly; faculty and students are moving locations all day. For school-wide, or zone-specific, announcements we can dial a specific extension from any of the IP phones to send a "live" announcement, or we use Bell Commander to send pre-recorded messages. Additionally, we have digital signage (Rise Vision on Apple TVs) around campus, outside, inside, and in classrooms which someone has to manually adjust when we have a school-wide safety alert, and then remove the alert once it has passed; we have frequent weather-related alerts here so this does take significant effort to stay on top of.

With our current configuration, there aren't any real ongoing hardware or software costs for the phones and speakers (there is an annual cost for Rise Vision). We are in the final phases of testing SingleWire's Informacast solution to replace the Bell Commander software. This software will allow access from a mobile app, or internet browser to send the school-wide messages, including making changes to the digital signs, and will include the option to send emails and text messages to our faculty, staff, and parents when appropriate. Of course, the new solution does come with an annual cost for the ongoing licensing and support of the platform.

Best of luck!

Jimmy

We use FreePBX/Asterisk for our phone system on our campus with Sangoma IP phones and Algo IP speakers. We currently have an IP phone in each classroom. In some buildings we have an IP speaker in the classrooms as well as the phone. We use the speakers for bells and emergency announcements (we used to rely on the ip phones but they just weren't loud enough). We are thinking about removing the phones in the classrooms and only installing the IP speaker, the classroom phones just never get used. Our only reservation is in case of an emergency. The classroom speakers are two way but currently the teacher is not able to initiate the call from the classroom.

Can we count on the teacher to always have a cell phone or do we leave the LAN line phone in the classroom just in case? What do other schools do? Do you have LAN line phones/IP phones in each classroom? Do you see a problem with removing the phone? I'd love to get your insight on this.