A CASE STUDY: Richardson TSI Enhances Education and Safety in Hall County,
Ga.
Richardson Technology Systems Inc. (TSI), an independent technology systems
integrator, has been providing integrated technology solutions to
educational facilities in the state of Georgia for more than 40 years.
Richardson TSI provides educators and administrators with solutions to meet
and exceed educational goals, enhance school safety and improve their work
environment. With a reputation for excellence in customer service, quality
and innovative technology, Richardson TSI has built many strong and
long-lasting relationships with clients across the state, including Hall
County, Ga. “We have been working with Richardson TSI for more than 15
years,” said Dr. Aaron Turpin, executive director
of information, technology, and assessment for Hall County Schools.
In
2004, The Hall County School System selected Richardson TSI to upgrade the
Lyman Hall Elementary phone and intercom systems to the Rauland-Borg
Telecenter® 21. The new system was the answer to improve
communication within the school as well as between faculty and parents. The
Telecenter 21's intercom feature works with classroom speakers, phones,
and/or a call-in switch, while the telephone functionality allows for direct
connection to external phone lines or incorporation with a main office phone
system.
The new system was an instant advancement for the school, but the true value
of the system wouldn’t be realized until the start of a new school year was
interrupted by a tornado on Aug. 26, 2008.
At 3:50 p.m., the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for all
of Hall County, Ga. From the time the warning was issued, Lyman Hall
Elementary staff had only seconds to move children from the gym – the
location of the After School Program – and secure the safety of more than
200 students and faculty before the tornado struck the school.
“When we received the tornado warning via the emergency radio in the front
office, we had about 30 seconds to move the children from the gym to
safety,” said Lyman Hall Elementary School Principal Pat Tilson. “We
announced the tornado alert over the Rauland Telecenter 21 intercom and
quickly began moving children to safety.
The intercom literally saved the day!”
Natural disasters have the ability to destroy communities without a
moment’s notice – making quick communication a necessity for survival. “Had
it not been for the intercom system, we would not have had time to move the
children from the gym – where most of the damage occurred,” said Tilson.
“Even after the storm passed and all of our faculty and students were
out of harm’s way, the intercom system still worked.”
The value of having highly trained and experienced technicians to install a
system is underscored when a system is most needed. “Richardson TSI has a
highly-skilled, innovative team with an education-centric mission providing
scalable solutions to meet the specific needs of a school system,” says
Richardson TSI President Joseph Ciotti.
“All of our technicians are enrolled in the CEST certification
program and we currently have more Certified Electronics Systems Technicians
than any other company in the country.”
Hall County, Ga. is a fast-growing community 35 miles northeast of Atlanta
with nearly 25,000 students enrolled in 20 elementary schools, six middle
schools and six high schools. With an ever-growing number of new students
and limited resources, the county was been faced with the challenges of
maintaining educational excellence, enhancing the overall learning
experience for students, and improving the work environment for the 1,540
certified staff members working for the Hall County School System. “As we
continue to standardize our schools across the district, we will continue to
use Richardson TSI solutions because of their quality and customer service,”
said Dr. Turpin.
Hall County must also provide safety in a new and changing society that
brings unique challenges of its own. “Richardson TSI has helped Hall County
meet those challenges head-on with technology solutions that provide
communication and security control throughout the school and within the
classroom – maximizing learning outcomes, safety and operational
efficiencies,” Ciotti says.
Hall County School System has continued to excel in providing a safe and
productive learning environment because of its understanding and investment
in technology solutions for education. Richardson TSI’s innovative
technology solutions have allowed Hall County to engage students, empower
teachers and improve academic performance – allowing schools to keep the
focus on teaching and learning.
About Richardson TSI
Located in Suwanee, Georgia, Richardson TSI is a leading provider of integrated technology solutions in education, health care and government in the state of Georgia. For more than 40 years, Richardson TSI has dedicated its efforts to providing creative solutions, superior products and quality customer service helping to streamline hospitals and schools and enhance their overall efficiency. Richardson TSI connects people through technology, providing dynamic communication and safety solutions, enabling clients to expand their resources and maximize outcomes. For more information regarding Richardson TSI, please visit www.richardsontsi.com
eSchoolNews.com Issued 1/16/2009