How a Network Upgrade Strengthened Learning and Safety
A Network Built for Student Success
For South Florida Autism Charter School (SFACS), reliable connectivity is essential to daily learning and campus safety. As enrollment expanded and digital tools became central to instruction, the school’s existing network could no longer keep pace. Coverage gaps, instability, and limited capacity disrupted classrooms and affected communication and security systems.
SFACS partnered with i-Tech Support to implement a full Cisco Meraki network refresh—replacing an unreliable environment with a scalable, secure foundation designed for both learning and safety.
Supporting a Mission That Depends on Connectivity
Located in Hialeah, Florida, South Florida Autism Charter School serves more than 400 students and employs approximately 150 staff. The nonprofit charter school focuses on individualized education programs that emphasize communication, social development, and life skills for students on the autism spectrum.
Dependable technology underpins nearly every aspect of the school’s mission—from interactive instruction to campus-wide communication and security monitoring.
An Aging Network Was Holding the School Back
SFACS relied on consumer-grade switches and access points intended for small offices. As enrollment grew and device counts increased, the network struggled to support demand.
Key challenges included:
- Coverage gaps across classrooms and hallways
- Network instability affecting learning tools, phones, and cameras
- Limited capacity, with only 17 access points serving 400+ users
- No scalable foundation to support campus expansion
The school needed a professional-grade solution that could deliver reliability, security, and room to grow.
A Campus-Wide Cisco Meraki Upgrade
i-Tech Support designed and deployed a complete Cisco Meraki network refresh, replacing all consumer-grade equipment with enterprise-class infrastructure.
The upgrade included:
- 12 Cisco Meraki switches for backbone connectivity and traffic control
- 49 Meraki access points (up from 17) for full campus coverage
- Low-voltage cabling upgrades to improve throughput and reliability
- Network segmentation and redundancy to enhance uptime and security
Using Meraki’s cloud-based dashboard, SFACS gained real-time visibility into network performance, user activity, and security—while simplifying day-to-day management.
Completed Over One Weekend
Weekend Installation
To minimize disruption, i-Tech scheduled installation over a Friday-to-Sunday weekend.
Infrastructure Upgrade
Legacy equipment was removed, new switches and access points were installed.
Network Validation
Connectivity was validated across classrooms, offices, and outdoor areas.
One-Month Rollout
From project approval to final cutover, the entire deployment was completed within one month.
Reliable Connectivity Across the Campus
The upgraded network delivered immediate and measurable improvements. Downtime incidents and user complaints have virtually disappeared, allowing staff to focus on students—not troubleshooting.
Reliable Coverage
Dead zones were eliminated, providing consistent, high-speed connectivity throughout the campus.
Improved Communication & Safety
VoIP phone systems and IP-based security cameras now operate reliably, supporting uninterrupted communication and monitoring.
Simplified IT Management
IT staff can monitor performance, enforce policies, and resolve issues remotely through the Meraki dashboard.
Scalable Foundation
The network supports future growth, with new access points or switches easily added as needs evolve.
Ready to Build a More Reliable Network?
Whether you’re dealing with coverage gaps, aging hardware, or growing campus demands, i-Tech Support can help you design a secure, scalable infrastructure that keeps your team connected.