Verizon answers the call for local school, modernizes communications system
At a glance
- Saint John Vianney School found it needed to replace its primary telephone system just days before the start of the academic year.
- Verizon stepped in to rapidly deploy its One Talk platform, using LTE cellular technology to modernize communications.
- The upgrade added features including individual teacher voicemails, a custom automated receptionist, mobile access for parish staff, and more.
COLONIA, N.J.—Just three days before the start of the academic year, the Saint John Vianney School in Colonia faced a potential disaster. The small private Catholic school, which serves approximately 300 students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, suddenly lost its main telephone line without warning.
Saint John Vianney was left without its main telephone line on the eve of the new school year.
Enter Paul Armento, the school’s network administrator and a proud alumnus.
Lacking the time to install a new hard-wired phone system to replace the failed, outdated one currently in place, and facing what he estimated could be a costly replacement, Armento reached out to Verizon for help. The response was swift, with Verizon representatives arriving on-site Monday morning after Armento contacted Verizon over the weekend.
The answer to the school’s problem was Verizon’s One Talk solution, a flexible, plug-and-play communication platform that uses built-in cellular LTE technology, which can reduce the need for the costly re-wiring often associated with replacing legacy systems.
“The second that I saw that LTE symbol, I was like, ‘Okay, now this is possible,’” said Armento, emphasizing the importance of finding a cost-effective option for a school with a tight budget.
“Most small schools aren’t in a position financially to take on projects of this magnitude, especially when they need to get done so quickly. Verizon made it possible,” Armento said. “If not for One Talk, this honestly would not have been possible in this time frame.”
According to Armento, the new technology has improved the daily operations of the school, benefiting staff, students, and families.“The reliable communications capabilities delivered by One Talk are not only helping us enhance the learning environment but also having a direct impact on the safety and security of our classrooms and students,” Armento said.
The system features an automated receptionist that can be customized on demand to handle sudden schedule changes like snow days or delayed openings, keeping families informed in real-time.
Additional benefits of One Talk include Saint John Vianney upgrading from an expensive 24-hour answering service to a system where teachers have their own individual voicemails and caller ID, features the old system lacked. The technology has even touched the spiritual side of the school’s mission. Using the One Talk mobile application, the parish’s priests can now receive urgent calls on their mobile devices wherever they have coverage. This helps them stay reachable for emergencies.
The modernization of Saint John Vianney’s phone system is a story of community, rapid response, and the power of a strong technology partnership.
“This has personally honestly been my favorite,” Armento reflected, praising the dedication of the Verizon team. “I pulled the fire alarm, so to speak, and everybody has just given me 110% ever since. We all work so well together.”
Thanks to this technological upgrade, Saint John Vianney has a modernized communications system to help it serve its students and families.
