Kentucky Teams with Nortel to Enrich K-12 Learning Experience

This from CNNMoney.com

Education Solution Includes Applications,

Managed Services, Security Services

The first state to bring broadband Internet access into every public school is further enriching the K-12 learning experience with intelligent classrooms and online tools for collaboration and assessment based on an education network solution from Nortel(1) (TSX: NT)(NYSE: NT).
The State of Kentucky is implementing a complete Nortel Education Solution - including infrastructure, applications, managed services and security services - under its 2007-2012 Education Technology Master Plan(2).

This solution, delivered through Nortel channel partner Pomeroy IT Solutions(2), provides web-based access to educational resources from both schools and homes. It is designed to help achieve the plan's goal of providing equal opportunities for roughly 650,000 K-12 students in 174 school districts to become productive and contributing citizens.

"Nortel has a very clear understanding of the K-12 environment," said David Couch, associate commissioner, Office of Education Technology, Kentucky Department of Education(2).

"Typically a vendor will come in thinking K-12 is like a corporate environment and that a corporate solution will work in this environment. But it's radically different because of the concept of local control and autonomy."

"You essentially have 174 corporations that you're trying to move in the same direction, with similar objectives but with each having their own ideas on how to get there," Couch said. "Nortel has people on the ground who understand that, and they've helped us select from their suite of products the best set for this environment." ...