Berbee Goes to School: Tech Firm Networks Oshkosh Schools for Future.

Business Editors/Technology Writers

OSHKOSH, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 30, 2000

Oshkosh Area School District students and staff will return to classrooms this year to find the distance between the district's 21 schools bridged by a high-speed computer network. The new network, similar to those in the private sector, not only links school buildings -- facilitating information flow and ideas -- but also provides a powerful connection out to the Internet.

This vital technology enhancement was completed over the summer by teams from Wisconsin-based Berbee, a growing electronic business and networking services company, and its business partner, networking giant Cisco Systems. It actually began, though, with a resounding yes from parents and voters across the district: Funded largely by $1.4 million from last year's referendum, the project promises to markedly improve access to technology for all.

"The network provides new learning opportunities for students that allow them to fully develop the technological tools they need to succeed in the 21st century," said Lee Blahnik, Director of Technology and Media for the district. "It's truly an asset, an investment in our students that everyone in our school district can be proud of making."

The project is consistent with a statewide push to wire all schools with high-speed networks and to fully integrate technology in curricula across Wisconsin. Oshkosh Area School District has a new web page specifically designed to help teachers find lessons and activities that foster curriculum integration of information and technology skills. The Oshkosh/Berbee networking project is consistent with the state's TEACH program, which provides support for investment in educational technology and telecommunications access for schools, libraries, and colleges.

The implementation team based out of Berbee's Appleton office installed a total network infrastructure for the district's 21 schools. The job required installation of more than 280 switches, which regulate data traffic, and over 10,000 ports, which enable the free flow of data to and from the schools; and out to the world via the Internet.

The new network provides the potential for, grades, and attendance to be recorded district-wide with a click of the mouse, enhancing productivity and increasing time for student-teacher interaction. Other benefits include the ability for students to do in-depth research of limitless online resources; as well as the opportunity to enroll in specialized courses using desktop computers plugged into the network. Eventually, says Blahnik, the network has the power to help parents interact with the school system in exciting new ways that promote community-focused learning.

Following the referendum and planning last spring, the district selected Berbee and its Cisco partner over a host of technology vendors based on the company's innovative approach and commitment to personal service, according to Blahnik.

Berbee added additional value to the relationship by installing a state of the art IP Telephony system over the network at the newly constructed Jefferson Elementary School, further expanding the district's technological capability, and creating a tool for significant cost savings, said Blahnik. (A Cisco IP telephone system runs over the existing IP network to provide state-of-the-art, affordable telephone service, while extending the potential for new efficiencies from the convergence of voice and data over one network.)

"Our decision to entrust our network to an outside firm really came down to the quality we saw in individual companies like Berbee," said Blahnik. "They were committed to our educational goals, and to the technology we needed."

About Berbee...

Berbee is a growing innovator in the delivery of high-value network consulting, electronic commerce, and application solutions for business. With a diverse client roster that includes major catalog retailers, national retail brands, and Internet firms, Berbee offers comprehensive solutions that help companies manage and integrate innovative technologies into a model for success. Berbee has offices in Appleton, Madison, Milwaukee and Grand Rapids, Michigan. A Minneapolis data center and sales offices are scheduled to open in early 2001.