Buffalo City Schools Rolls Out ClassLink LaunchPad - Virtualization Pilot a Strong Success

Aug. 3, 2010 - PRLog -- ClassLink is pleased to announce Buffalo City Schools selection of HP SchoolCloud powered by ClassLink LaunchPad™ as their new desktop virtualization solution. HP SchoolCloud will be rolled out in a phased approach in all 59 of their schools, eventually impacting over 33,000 students.

Buffalo completed a 90-day pilot virtualization study in four schools this past school year using the LaunchPad virtualization solution and low-cost thin client devices.  The pilot successfully achieved the district’s seven goals for their new virtualized environment. The attained goals were:
1)   Easy and reliable access to applications and files
2)   Ability for off-site access to applications and files
3)   Enable staff to distribute and collect assignments electronically
4)   Secure access to the district SIS system from remote locations
5)   Allow the IT team to easily manage and implement a virtualized environment
6)   Stretch the technology resources of the district by using of lower cost devices
7)   Simplify software deployment to desktops

“We continue to work closely with Buffalo City Schools to ensure that the expansion of HP SchoolCloud powered by ClassLink LaunchPad is in every way as successful as the pilot,” said Berj Akian, President, ClassLink. “ClassLink’s customer service and implementation strategies set us above the competition.”

ClassLink LaunchPad is the centralized point of access where teachers and students login to see a customized, dynamic desktop from which all applications can be easily accessed from any computing device in the school, community or home. LaunchPad eases the workload of a district’s IT staff since maintenance is done in one central location. LaunchPad also includes a number of embedded classroom management tools, calendaring, and more.

“Implementing our virtualized environment with ClassLink has been a great experience,” said Dan Marmion, CTO, Buffalo City Schools, NY. “Not only will this help ease the workload for my IT staff, but more importantly our teachers and students will now have more access to high-tech resources right in their classrooms. This environment will most certainly have a strong positive effect on teaching and learning.”

“The students were able to work on projects both here at school and at home. Compatibility issues are no longer a problem. I was also able to modify work at home, which students could then access at home,” added a Buffalo City School teacher who participated in the study. "I feel this is an important new tool for us as teachers and for our students."

ClassLink has a proven record of delivering high quality technology solutions designed to meet the unique needs of the K-12 instructional setting. Engineered for students and teachers, ClassLink’s award winning products are simple to use yet help raise student achievement by providing anytime anywhere learning access. In addition to a suite of software products, the company has a specialty in instructional technology professional development and 11 years of expertise in implementing virtualization solutions for schools.

About ClassLink
Founded in 1998, ClassLink’s mission is to empower educators to improve learning through innovative systems and services. ClassLink solutions provide administrators tracking and usage information to allow for informed decision making which lowers the overall cost of technology.
ClassLink LaunchPad™ delivers 24/7 access to a school's full array of instructional software resources from any computer in the school, community and from home. ClassLink Inquiry™ provides administrators with comprehensive and customizable real-time software and hardware utilization reports. With an extreme commitment toward customer satisfaction, ClassLink continually partners with its customers. ClassLink ClassMate™ is the only student administration and curriculum management software designed for Career and Technical Education.
ClassLink OnTrack is an easy to use, affordable yet powerful, 24/7 curriculum mapping and lesson planning solution.

ClassLink—The future of instructional technology.

For more information, visit www.ClassLink.com, call 888-963-7550 or email info@ClassLink.com.

# # #

ClassLink is the future of education technology. ClassLink's technology solutions include LaunchPad, ClassMate, OnTrack, and ClassSync.