Tippecanoe School Corporation

Challenge: Outdated technology, no standardization or automation

Solution: Rauland Telecenter U Critical Communication 

Products Used: Rauland Telecenter U hybrid with 4 button call switches

When Tippecanoe School Corporation was looking for communication upgrades, they did not look any further than the name the brand they trust most: Rauland Ametek. The district had many Rauland traditional intercom systems from years past, and the longevity and reliability of these systems convinced the corporation to move forward with Rauland's latest solution. In conjunction with Stair Associates and Electric Plus, the Tippecanoe School Corporation worked with Communication Company to design a system that met the district’s needs.

“We needed a system that has more automation to eliminate user error and panic during an emergency event,” explains Steve Tobias, the corporation's Director of Operations and Safety. The product and all its features were presented to the Lafayette, IN corporation in 2018 with plans to move forward with the installation during the pre-scheduled renovation of Battle Ground Middle School. After a successful product demonstration, the solution was expanded to three additional elementary schools, unifying the district's emergency processes and communications. 

The Telecenter U Critical Communication System features four buttons per classroom call switch, allowing each classroom to put the school in lockdown, make normal calls to the front office or notify the correct response team in the event of an emergency. This one-touch ability is what the schools needed to streamline and automate their communication system.

The VoIP console located in the front office of each school is programmed with customized "events" unique to Tippecanoe School Corporation. This one button launch notifies an area, the building or all buildings simultaneously of any of the programmed events. A RSO or school official is still able to pick up the handset and do a page override of the pre-programmed alert. Jodi Day, Battle Ground Middle School Principal, likes having the standardized pre-programmed messages for drills and/or an actual emergency. She knows her safety teams can supervise or assistant in an emergency situation without being tied to the paging phone. “Nobody’s panicky voice is heard overhead or misspeaking directions when that person is under so much stress," explains Jodi. "The students become trained to listen and proceed to the safe spaces."  

During this unprecedented time, the Telecenter Universe was incredibly easy to adjust to meet scheduling needs of the students. The start time and end time of each class has been changed often since classes reconvened in August 2020. “The web-based software is user-friendly and allowed us to make changes without needing a service call or researching the patterns how to make bell changes,” explains Battle Ground Middle School Assistant Principal, Martin Glynn. 

For Tippecanoe School Corporation, Telecenter U has been a game changer in the district's everyday and emergency communications. The Rauland technology has once-again proven to be a reliable, easy-to-use solution for this school community and is sure to remain the go-to communication solution for years to come.