March 2004
Ontario school boards can connect during trial period
Ontario school boards are now being encouraged to connect to the ORION network in a trial designed to help schools boards and ORION identify how boards can best make use of the broadband capabilities of the network to enhance education.
ORION is providing Ontario school boards with "free" access to the network for a trial period as an opportunity to assess their interest in connecting to the network on an ongoing basis.
Although a handful of Ontario school boards have already signed on to connect to ORION, many more have expressed interest. In response, ORION is instituting a trial period specifically for Ontario school boards. This trial period will assist ORION in consulting with school boards on how boards, teachers and students may benefit from ORION connectivity, by exploring administrative efficiencies, new applications and collaborations and by gaining access to new educational resources and partners over the ORION infrastructure.
"School boards have always been eligible to connect to ORION," says Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships, Randy Neals "It's just that most of our outreach efforts has been directed to colleges and universities. As a result, Ontario school boards are not generally aware that they are eligible to connect to the network," he said.
ORION recently revised its fee structure to address unique circumstances facing school boards in different regions of the province. The revised fee structure is based in part on student enrollment as well as other factors.
It is expected that a trial period will enable several school boards to make an assessment of continued connectivity to ORION with no obligation, without the barrier of any immediate financial commitment. ORION is also consulting with the school board IT community through such organizations as the Ontario Association of School Board Officials IT sub-committee, and other organizations.
A number of school boards have signed on to connect to ORION, including several boards from Northwestern Ontario school boards and the York District School Board.
School boards have to cover their own connectivity costs and will need to work with their local telecom suppliers to address local connectivity and wide area network infrastructure.
There is no further obligation to sign on to the ORION network beyond this period. School boards that are interested in taking advantage of this offer need to sign an Acceptable Use Policy. They may obtain more information by consulting directly with Randy Neals, or by communicating with ORION at info@orano.on.ca.
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