Ridgecrest and Waller Road technology upgrades

Ridgecrest and Waller Road Elementary Schools are getting a significant technology upgrade this summer! This summer, both schools are getting a significant technology upgrade, thanks to the hard work of PSD's EdTech and Capital Project teams. They are installing a new network at both schools, with updated wireless access points for students.

As you may know, Ridgecrest was built in 1981 and modernized in 1991, while Waller Road was built in 1936 and modernized in 1985 - almost 40 years ago! That means much of the infrastructure of both buildings needs to be updated to support new teaching and learning tools.

Currently, both schools have Category 5 (Cat 5) network cable, which, by industry standards, became obsolete in 2001 and provides just 10% of the speed of what is acceptable by today's standards. This greatly affects internet access, video streaming, and other commonly needed functionality for students and staff. But do not worry - next year, both schools will be up-to-speed with industry-standard CAT6a cabling, which provides schools with 10 gigabits of speed over a single run of up to 330 feet! Also, Ridgecrest is getting a brand-new server space to house all the cords (which are currently hiding behind a shower curtain in the main office). We are thrilled to see the faster speeds and high-powered learning that come with these upgrades!

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