Schools Managed Network Case Study

Last year, the Department of Education identified an increasing need within the school system to administer network systems using trained professional staff. Traditionally, school networks have been managed by IT coordinators, often a dedicated teacher within the school who may not have had the necessary training or time to administer large computer networks of increasing complexity.

In December 1999, the Department of Education initiated the first phase of a project designed to assess the viability of outsourced network management within the state’s schools. The project meant that those vendors successful in the tender process would take part in a pilot program to manage the networks within a group of schools. The department set up a number of trial clusters across the state, containing 3-6 schools in each cluster. The Quill Consultancy was successful in the tender process, and was given the Bridgewater cluster containing 6 schools.

Two of the Quill’s consultants, Duncan Lee and Dean Estcourt, were given the responsibility of managing the Bridgewater cluster in the state’s south. Working with the primary IT coordinator in each school, they provided advice and planning expertise on server set-up, administration, e-mail and printing procedures. A wide variety of software was used, including Windows NT, Windows 95, Windows 98 and Proxy Server.

In the course of the pilot program, The Quill Consultancy was also given the Sorell cluster after the previous vendor withdrew from the trial.

Duncan is a Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE) who found that the knowledge he gained through his studies was of immense benefit in managing the project. Dean is currently working towards this certification, and found that this practical experience added another dimension to the knowledge he had gained through study. Recent Quill employee Brett Henderson is also working on the project, gaining valuable insight in preparation for his MCSE studies.

At the end of the pilot, the Department of Education undertook an evaluation of its outcomes and decided to extend the project statewide. The remaining schools were divided into clusters across the state and after a tender process a list of qualified vendors was provided to schools, allowing them to choose a vendor best suited to their needs.

The Quill Consultancy was successful in securing the Bridgewater, Rosetta, Sorell, Taroona and Ulverstone clusters, and also provides support to the successful vendors in additional three clusters—Lindisfarne, Burnie and St Marys. Two new Quill employees, Chris Kuplis and Damon Kingshott will provide support for the Taroona and Ulverstone clusters respectively, while Duncan, Brett and Dean will continue to provide support for the Bridgewater, Rosetta and Sorell clusters.