MDUSD is continuing upgrades to VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone system

MDUSD is continuing to upgrade the District’s phone system to VoIP - Voice over Internet Protocol. (See "What is VoIP?" below for more information.)

The VoIP systems are being upgraded in phases, which started last school year, as part of Technology Infrastructure improvements. Please note that as phones are updated, extensions will change.

Sites upgraded: Mt. Diablo Elementary, Meadow Homes Elementary, Rio Vista Elementary, Silverwood Elementary, Willow Creek Center and Northgate HS.

Upgrading in early winter 2025: Loma Vista Adult Education, Wren Avenue Elementary and Ayers Elementary.

Upgrading in Spring, 2026: Gregory Gardens Elementary and the Dent Center (District Office) 

Upgrading in Summer, 2026: Central Services (M&O, Food & Nutrition Services, Purchasing & Warehouse, Transportation)

Upgrading in Early 2027: Sun Terrace and Hidden Valley elementary schools

New sites will continue to be added as network upgrades continue. District phone directories will be updated as sites are transitioned to VoIP.

What is VoIP? A VoIP phone system is a way to make phone calls using the internet instead of traditional phone lines. Instead of your voice traveling over old copper wires in landline phones, it gets turned into digital signals and sent over the internet—just like an email or video call.

Why are we making these upgrades? We are making these upgrades as part of our Technology Infrastructure Improvements, as well as in conjunction with other construction projects, such as the Elementary Modernization at Meadow Homes, Mt. Diablo and Rio Vista elementary schools. 

How will this improve MDUSD phone service districtwide? Upgrading to a VoIP phone system improves a school district’s phone system in several key ways—especially when compared to traditional landlines. 

1. Cost Savings

• Lower monthly bills: Internet-based calls are cheaper, especially for long distance.
• No need for separate phone lines: Uses your existing internet connection.
• Free internal calling: Call between schools or departments at no extra cost.

2. Scalability and Flexibility

• Easily add or move phones—no rewiring needed.
• Works on desktop phones, computers, tablets, and smartphones.
• Great for staff working from multiple campuses.

3. Advanced Features

• VoIP systems come with features that traditional systems often lack or charge extra for:
  • Voicemail to email or text
  • Auto-attendant/menu system (e.g., "Press 1 for attendance")
  • Call forwarding, routing, and transfers
  • Call logs and usage reports
  • Paging, intercom, and emergency broadcasts

4. Improved Communication and Collaboration

• Unified communications: Phone, video, messaging, and screen sharing in one system.
• Teachers and administrative staff can collaborate more easily, even across schools.
• Support for hybrid and remote learning environments.

5. Better Emergency Handling

• E911 services: VoIP can send exact room/location data to first responders.
• Alert systems can notify key staff instantly when 911 is dialed.
• Supports lockdown procedures with broadcast paging or emergency alerts.

6. Easier Management

• IT can manage the entire system via a web-based dashboard.
• No need to call the phone company to reassign extensions or fix issues.\Monitor call quality, uptime, and user activity in real time.

7. Future-Proof and Reliable

• Landline service is being phased out in many areas (including California).
• VoIP is cloud-based, always up to date, and supports redundancy for outages.
• Integration with other systems (like school bells, calendars) is possible.