Waverly Community School District

Background

Waverly Community Unit School District #6, commonly known as Waverly Schools, is a public K–12 district located near Springfield, Illinois. Serving approximately 325 students, the district operates across two primary campuses—a grade school accommodating kindergarten through sixth grade and a junior/senior high school for grades seven through twelve—as well as a few smaller auxiliary buildings. Despite its relatively modest scale, the district manages over 600 client devices, highlighting the necessity of robust, reliable networking infrastructure.

Historically, the district's network environment was fragmented, utilizing a variety of solutions from different vendors. This complexity resulted in increased management overhead and challenges in efficient troubleshooting and maintenance.

Organizational Objectives

The district had clear requirements when exploring options for a new networking solution:

• Unified Management: A single pane of glass to simplify management, monitoring, and troubleshooting.
• Cost Efficiency: Elimination of recurring licensing fees, thus reducing ongoing operational expenses.
• Ease of Use: A straightforward user interface to minimize the learning curve for administrators and facilitate quick configuration and deployment.

Why UniFi?

UniFi met these requirements head-on with its intuitive, license-free, and scalable platform. Its centralized management console provided Waverly Schools with immediate visibility and control across their entire network, drastically simplifying administrative tasks. UniFi's affordability and lack of ongoing license fees ensured the district could allocate budget more effectively toward educational resources and further technological improvements.

Network Infrastructure

The backbone of Waverly's network consists of the UniFi Aggregation Pro switch, connecting multiple UniFi Pro and Pro Max switches, such as the USW-Pro-48 and USW-Pro-24 models. These switches provide reliable, high-speed connectivity essential for daily academic operations and administrative tasks. Additionally, the district employs UniFi's latest Wi-Fi technology, including the U6 Pro access points, complemented by AC Pro and U6 In-Wall access points. The In-Wall units specifically enhance flexibility, enabling Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) deployments for phones and other connected devices.

Waverly Schools notably utilize dark fiber to seamlessly link their two campuses into one cohesive network, streamlining network management and significantly enhancing connectivity speed and reliability.

Physical Security with UniFi Protect

Transitioning initially from UniFi Video to the modern UniFi Protect solution, Waverly Schools appreciates Protect’s ease of deployment and user-friendly interface. The district currently operates approximately 50 G2 cameras but plans to scale up to around 100 cameras, integrating the advanced G5 Ultra, AI turret cameras for outdoor monitoring, and potentially the forthcoming 180-degree panoramic cameras.

A significant advantage highlighted by Caleb Nelson, IT Administrator at Waverly Schools, is Protect’s plug-and-play deployment. "I don't have to configure a lot of stuff. I just plug it in," Nelson explains, emphasizing the system’s simplicity and straightforward management. Additionally, the absence of software licensing fees ensures the district benefits from continual software enhancements without additional budgetary strain.

UniFi Access

UniFi Access has also begun replacing the district’s older intercom and entry solutions, initially deployed on a limited basis but planned for broader implementation. UniFi Access simplifies remote management, allowing administrators to grant building access remotely, enhancing security and convenience. Nelson appreciates the solution’s user-friendly interface and remote capabilities: "I can be sitting at home letting people in…that's huge for us."

Future-Proofing and Planned Expansion

As Waverly Schools looks toward the future, significant network improvements are planned. The district is preparing to migrate from their current gateway solution to UniFi’s Enterprise Firewall Gateway (EFG) once existing licensing commitments expire. With ample power and robust feature sets—including an upgraded 64GB RAM model—EFG represents a perfect match for the district's needs, comfortably handling their projected client device growth.

The district also plans to upgrade its current Network Video Recorders (NVR) to Enterprise NVRs (ENVR) at each campus, significantly enhancing their video management capacity and efficiency. Nelson emphasizes that these expansions underscore the district's continued commitment to leveraging UniFi’s extensive ecosystem for cohesive, scalable growth.

Conclusion

Through strategic adoption of UniFi’s network, physical security, and access solutions, Waverly Community Unit School District #6 effectively streamlined its infrastructure, improved management efficiency, and significantly reduced operating costs. UniFi’s simplicity, powerful management capabilities, and the absence of licensing fees ensure the district is well-positioned for future growth and technological advancement.