PlenumVault Digital Systems Simplify Classroom Technology at Lake County Schools

Lake County Schools in Central Florida operates more than 50 schools and serves more than 40,000 students. The district recently completed a multi-year project that included the installation of Extron AV systems in classrooms at several schools such as Sorrento Elementary, Gray Middle School, Lake Minneola High School, Sawgrass Elementary, and Mount Dora Middle School. Classrooms at Eustis Heights Elementary, the latest school to be upgraded, were outfitted with PlenumVault Digital systems from Extron.

We selected Extron classroom AV systems because of our history with the company, the quality of their products, and the level of support provided at every stage.

Jimmer Roy
Network Security Systems Administrator
Leadership Team, Instructional and Information Technology
Lake County Schools

Before these new systems, the County’s classroom AV was tricky to install and often left the front of the room looking cluttered. “Previously, we installed AV components on the wall next to a short-throw projector,” says Jimmer Roy, Network Security Systems Administrator for Lake County Schools. “This required a significant amount of coordination among trades to get the locations correct for conduit and electrical boxes.” Often, they had to run surface mount raceway for cables, which detracted from the room aesthetics.

Out of Sight with PlenumVault Mounting

With PlenumVault Digital Systems, the County is able to seamlessly integrate digital and analog video sources. Their classrooms typically include a networked computer, document camera, and media player. The AV switcher/amplifier and power supply are housed in the PlenumVault mount, with cabling hidden in the ceiling and walls.

The PlenumVault mount fits in a standard 2' x 2' suspended ceiling for easy installation. A hinged door simplifies equipment installation, setup, and maintenance. PlenumVault also accepts a trimmed ceiling tile to match the room environment and keep sensitive equipment hidden from view. The new classrooms also feature flat panel displays and with the components hidden away in the ceiling, the front of each room is kept clean and neat.

Easy-to-Use MediaLink Controller

Teachers find the new systems very easy to use. Each classroom features a wall mounted MediaLink® controller. The layout of the controller interface is intuitive and simplifies control of display power, volume, and source selection. “The structure of the control system just makes sense,” says Roy. “Teachers appreciate always finding the same control interface as they move from room to room.”

The new systems are so easy to use, that the Lake County teachers who use them call for technical assistance less often. Most technical support calls are related to the classroom computer or network connectivity. “We rarely receive calls for help with the new AV systems,” says Roy. “When we do, those calls are usually very simple to resolve without a trip to the classroom.”

VoiceLift Microphone Benefits

Teachers also appreciate the voice amplification system in each room. The County installed the Extron VoiceLift® Microphone System option with each PlenumVault Digital System to improve speech intelligibility by gently amplifying the teacher’s voice. The pendant microphone is so light weight that teachers are comfortable wearing it for the entire school day. Both teachers and students at Lake County have commented on how useful they find the additional handheld microphone for student participation.

“We’ve received a lot of positive feedback from teachers about the VoiceLift Microphone,” says Roy. “Since they don’t have to shout to be heard, they’ve noticed it’s really helped reduce the strain on their voices after a long day of instruction.” Studies show that use of a sound field system, such as the VoiceLift Microphone, results in increased student achievement and a reduction in teacher health issues related to voice fatigue.

Long-Term Project with On-Going Extron Support

The classroom installations were part of a multi-year project at Lake County Schools. Construction of the elementary schools took about 18 months, while the high schools required over two years from groundbreaking to opening. “We selected Extron classroom AV systems because of our history with the company, the quality of their products, and the level of support provided at every stage,” says Roy. “We didn’t want to risk such an important project on a company that might not be around in 5 years.”