As they endeavor to educate students, area schools focus on useful, practical applications for technology. Is there a more noble objective than educating our children and keeping them safe while they learn?
BOLT Fiber Optics has made it a priority to work closely with area schools, ensuring these institutions have access to the resources they need to both educate and protect the students to whom they are entrusted.
Westville Public Schools is one of BOLT’s longtime customers. Ryan Swank serves as both the school’s assistant superintendent and its director of instructional technology.
“Although we can teach without technology, everyone—teachers, staff, and students—is dependent on quality internet access and devices. Education would look very different without it,” Swank said.
And that dependence, said Swank, is not limited to the classroom.
“Everything depends on reliable internet in this day and time,” he said. “Our phone system, security cameras, door access, vape sensors, student and staff devices, fire alarm systems, data backups, auditorium sound system, cafeteria, freezer control systems, heating and air climate control, and virus protection are just a few of the reasons we need reliable internet access and quality support equipment.”
Important selling considerations for Swank include multi-layered security, service, support and product longevity.
“It is impossible for me to be the expert on every aspect of technology so I need to make sure I have access to experts when I need it,” said Swank. “And when you are responsible for taxpayer funds, you want to be a good steward of those funds.”
BOLT offers quality, fiber optic broadband services, hardware sales, and network maintenance. Assisting area schools with the process of securing valuable E-Rate funding is also a priority. While BOLT is based in northeast Oklahoma, it serves the complex technology needs of schools across the state.
“Every job is unique,” confirmed Zack Blevins, a project manager for BOLT specializing in security technology. “I spend time with superintendents, principals, and resource officers. We go over their expectations and concerns and do a site survey and design a custom solution that best fits that school district.”
For Westville Schools, BOLT has been the one-stop-shop for technology for more than two decades.
“Our school district has been doing business with BOLT for over 25 years,” Swank said. “They have always been there if we need anything at our school. I would give them my highest recommendation when it comes to security, service, and support.”