Net56 launched an innovative web portal to inform and involve the community by encouraging community development, a connected learning community, promote engaged learning and prepare for state mandates.



As a well established community with a longstanding reputation for excellence, Deerfield Public School District 109 realized its web presence was under developed, under utilized, and they needed a means of communicating and educating students, parents, community members and staff in the vision, goals, accomplishments, and current events of the District - not to mention prepare them for the future to respond to state mandates.

They were faced with the same technology challenges as any other school district: data and applications were isolated from one another; redundant data entry, disconnected applications meant increased support costs, data reporting was costly and inefficient and data was inaccessible to decision makers namely the tax payers.

Deerfield District 109 needed a Web system that was informational both internally and externally, could be customized and would take advantage of information stored in various independent systems such as the business office and student information system.

The school district partnered with Net56 to outsource all of it’s information technology operations as well as deliver thin client technology to enhance learning and relieve the district of the technology management burden. (see network services case study)

Within the scope of the contract Net56 also provided Web Development services creating a cost effective, scalable, integrated and easy-to-use single access point to information, applications and business processes as well as hosting support services.

Rather than a static web site, Net56 created a Portal – a single gateway providing access to processes; serving as a starting point for people when they connect to the web and offering the ability to organize and customize information; allowing, parents, students, administration, staff and the community to easily and securely access information.

The portal also provides for uniformed data integration and exchange across multiple platforms and technology. So, regardless of where the information is located, users can easily and securely access information. User access is controlled by permissions as determined by administration. A unique benefit to the portal is that it includes a robust content management system allowing non-technical staff the ability to update content as necessary within the interwoven system - saving the district money and additional integration time as there is no need for a “web master”.

The Portal processes include:

• Structured data management, including reporting
• Unstructured data management, including document review and workflow, proactive information delivery, and document directory creation and management
• Search, including directory, content, and report searches
• Collaboration, including Chat, messaging, and community management
• End-user administration, including role management and default end-user views
• Security, including authorization, authentication, and administration
• Subscription

With the Deerfield Portal as the gateway from the Web to the network system and applications, it allows for the vast glut of information on the Internet and the Intranet to be organized and customized through a single entry point. It provides seamless access for non-authenticated users, and when confidential information is requested, simply requires a username and password. It is proprietary using open standards with Active Server Pages, (ASP) and is the solution for multiple intranet username/password systems which are based on various open standards.

The true cost savings and benefits come from the infrastructure integration, which unite existing systems with new systems to take advantage of the portal infrastructure. Combining resources such as the Web, e-mail, e-commerce and classroom instruction, Deerfield District 109 can take advantage of the same storehouse of information reducing administrative and maintenance costs in a very user friendly environment.

The District 109 Web Portal costs about 62 cents per child per week. Parents in the community gladly pay pennies per week just to get the newsletter, homework hotline, World book Encyclopedia, PTO site information, and Board meeting minutes - not to mention the plethora of other features and information available. That cost per child also includes portal support such as web hosting, maintenance development/programming as well as the dual-fiber redundant gigabit network backbone and the data center.

Customer satisfaction levels went up when the Deerfield portal was deployed, as it increased the speed of communication, information and business services - which translates into well informed tax payers, parents and district staff; opened two-way communication with teachers and administration; provided services on-line such as enrollment and payment of annual fees. The District’s Portal delivered an increased value proposition with the emphasis on leveraging existing information technology and showing immediate return on investments.

What better return on investment is there than communicating with the community, unburdening teachers from their administrative tasks so they can have more time with the kids and helping the administrative staff be more efficient.

Click here for a PDF version of this case study.

2002-01-23 - iWire News: Net56 Awarded Five Year Outsourcing Contract With Deerfield School District 109, ncbuy.com

Click here to view the Deerfield Network Services Case Study.