Challenge: An Outdated PBX System Holding Back School Communication
At St. John the Evangelist Catholic School in Carmichael, California, administrators faced a familiar challenge: an aging PBX phone system and analog classroom phones that couldn’t keep up with today’s communication demands. The school wanted a modern, hands-free paging and intercom solution that would enhance safety, improve coordination, and simplify daily operations.
The only problem? Upgrading to IP phones typically means running new Cat 5 or Cat 6 cables throughout the building—an expensive, time-consuming process that would disrupt classrooms and hallways for weeks.
The Roadblock: Rewiring the Entire Campus
Running new cabling in a busy K-8 school is no small task. The administration worried about the cost, disruption, and mess of tearing into walls and ceilings just to install new lines. The expense of the new cabling alone was projected to add thousands to the project, potentially delaying the upgrade another year.
The Solution: A Smarter Way with Phonewire
Instead of replacing every line, Phonewire proposed a creative alternative: reuse the existing Cat 3 wiring and convert it for IP performance. This innovative method allowed the school to deploy IP-based phones and paging technology without the need for new Ethernet cabling.
To make the solution even more efficient, Phonewire’s design incorporated Power over Ethernet (PoE)—providing power and data over the same line. This eliminated the need for additional switches or power adapters, further reducing cost and complexity.
Results: Seamless Upgrade and Significant Savings
By choosing Phonewire’s solution, St. John the Evangelist Catholic School saved over $18,000 in cabling and hardware expenses. The transition was fast and minimally disruptive—no construction dust, no downtime, and no lost learning days.
Teachers and staff were able to quickly adapt to their new phones and enjoy features such as:
- Hands-free paging and intercom for instant communication.
- Improved call quality and reliability across the entire campus.
- Simplified system management with future-ready IP technology.
The entire upgrade was completed with minimal impact to daily school operations, transforming outdated infrastructure into a modern communication system ready for the future.
Conclusion: Smart Innovation Over Costly Renovation
Sometimes, the best solution isn’t the most obvious one. By listening closely to the school’s needs and leveraging existing infrastructure, Phonewire turned a costly challenge into a simple, affordable success story.
If your school, hotel, or business is struggling with outdated phones or communication systems, don’t assume you have to start from scratch. Phonewire specializes in creative, cost-saving upgrades that deliver big results without big disruption.
Contact Phonewire today at phonewire.com/quote or call 1-800-857-1517 to discuss your upgrade. Whether you manage a small school campus or a district with multiple schools, Phonewire makes it easy to modernize communication and save money doing it.
